Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: §Na Cho Mu§ The Baron's Identity? Just One Left!
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I woke up from sleep.
A clear birdsong, now familiar, brought a smile to my face unbidden.
I let out a leisurely breath.
I inhaled the morning air that seemed to have slipped in through the open window.
It felt like my lungs were being refreshed.
'Ah, this is nice.'
Poke.
The moment I tried to get up, something touched my cheek.
More precisely, it felt like a finger lightly prodding.
I opened my eyes.
Daniella was gazing down at me with a pleased smile.
"Oh, Dani Madam!"
"Heehee, you're awake? You sleepyhead♥"
"Ah, well."
"You woke up a bit later than usual. Thanks to that, I got a good look at you sleeping. So cute♥"
My face flushed hot.
Waking up in the morning to see the woman I loved right away.
And her natural beauty even seemed to carry a fragrance.
I slowly sat up.
How long had I waited for this moment?
'This is romance right here. Sigh, feels like we're married.'
Heart pounding, I closed the distance to Daniella.
I kissed the tilting Dani Madam.
"Mm♥ Heh♥"
Holding her, I flicked my tongue like savoring a taste.
It was hot. Sticky and sweet.
Dani's tongue came right at me, pressing deeply against mine.
As we exchanged saliva, her tongue wrapped around like a snake.
As if she'd been waiting.
Feeling her tongue's caress, I stroked her cheek.
"Good morning, Madam."
"Good morning indeed. Thanks to you, Cheonje♥"
Her shy smile.
My chest swelled.
'Me, who had no experience with women, let alone dating. And here I am greeting heaven-like mornings!'
I felt like I could float away, mood soaring.
Daniella lightly slipped on some clothes and stretched.
In the process, her smooth, hairless armpit was exposed defenselessly.
'Even her armpit is pretty.'
Truly a madam sent from heaven.
I swallowed dryly.
Should I pounce and lick it right now?
'No, that'd make me a beastly nerd. Gotta be gentle!'
Unaware of my resolve.
Daniella waved leisurely.
She seemed ready to leave.
"Wash up. I'll bring breakfast."
"Yes, thank you as always."
"I'm the thankful one, my love♥"
She kissed my cheek and pulled away.
With an eye smile, she left the room.
My dick stiffened involuntarily.
I shook my head.
"Haa, time to wash up."
I headed to the bathroom.
Daniella's private bathroom felt familiar.
Maybe because it was similar to the one in my room.
I tilted my head.
'The Baron's wife staying in a room similar to a rookie adventurer's?'
Wow, is this right?
My hatred for the Baron deepened.
Maybe I should get rid of him sooner.
I showered with warm water and came out.
Dressed, I sat on the bed.
"Alright then!"
I rubbed my hands together with a grin.
One thing left to do, right?
I took Almas out from the ring.
I also pulled out the two gemstones and the Divergent Core.
I steadied my breath.
'Method similar to last time?'
I hesitated briefly.
What if it fails and I lose everything?
I'd cry for real.
Sob like a child.
Let's try it.
"Phew."
I smacked my lips, alternating glances between Almas and the items.
Brought them close.
Like before, Almas vibrated.
The more I saw it, the more wondrous.
Heart pounding as if an overwhelming power was dwelling within.
Guuuung!
Suddenly, a chilling light burst forth, eye-searingly cold.
I instinctively turned my head.
"Whoa!"
The light filled the room momentarily, then vanished.
I swallowed dryly and opened my eyes properly.
Almas before me had changed.
Its blade now closer to ice in form.
"Ooh!"
⚔ ITEM UPGRADE ⚔
[Liberated Almas]
Rarity:Legendary
*Unique Activation Effect 'Primordial Blizzard': Unleashes an almighty icy slash forward.
*Unique Passive Effect 'Turn to Snowflakes': Slain targets scatter as snowflakes.
*Unique Passive Effect 'Master of Severe Cold': Immune to cold and all chill effects. Cold-related power +100%.
*Unique Passive Effect 'Final Liberation': ?
The corner of my mouth twitched upward.
Real legendary, legendary.
"Whoa, what is this? Excalibur? Power feels boosted. And cold immunity?!"
Exclamations spilled out.
I wondered how much stronger it was.
First, the previous Almas could freeze a powered-up Punger.
Part of the building behind Punger got wrecked too.
'Of course, if I'd poured all my mana, it'd be stronger.'
So what about now?
Still a mystery.
Definitely stronger, but.
Couldn't know without testing.
"Sigh."
Soon enough, a chance to test.
How insanely performant would it be?
'Oh yeah, forgot. Don't I have swordsmanship?'
Swordsmanship gained from pure love sex with Dani Madam.
Only remembering now.
Always so damn busy!
⚡ SKILL ACQUIRED ⚡
[Kostas-style Elegant Swordsmanship]
The essence of swordsmanship passed down in the Kostas family. All knowledge is imprinted.
※Passive
"Oh, ooh!"
Suddenly, my vision went dark.
Like someone plugged a USB into my head, playing unseen footage.
How to swing, handle the sword—everything shown.
Essentially imprinting a swordsmanship manual into my brain instantly.
"Whoa, insane! Crazy!"
How to process this?
How to use it?
Dazed in awe, a knock came, door opening.
Dani Madam wheeled in a cart.
Face beaming fresh smile.
"Cheonje, breakfast time♥"
"I'll gladly have some. Uh, wait a sec, Madam."
"Yes?"
"Could you teach me a bit about Kostas-style Elegant Swordsmanship?"
Almas was in my hand just then.
Madam saw my sword, startled briefly, then smiled pleased.
"Haven't used it in ages. I'll show you the basics!"
"Ooh, Madam, yes!"
"Hehe♥ Fun fact: In the family, I wielded the sword better than Father, the head♥"
Daniella grabbed a poker near the fireplace.
Left hand on hip, right holding poker forward.
Right foot stepped forward, with a wink.
"This is the basic stance!"
"Ooh."
I mimicked it.
Dani Madam explained kindly.
"Our family swordsmanship was built around rapiers and such fine swords."
"Oh, that's why the name."
"But as eras passed, flaws showed, so successive heads diluted weaknesses with ideas, turning them to strengths."
"Ooh."
"First, Form 1: Decapitation."
Dani gripped the poker two-handed, stepped forward.
Swinging with full weight, brought it down.
The curtain ahead billowed greatly.
Whoosh!
"Most basic. Cheonje."
"Yes?"
"Try it on me. Full power!"
I hesitated.
Suddenly swing full force?
Might hurt Daniella.
Seeing my hesitation, Dani Madam smiled seductively.
"If you're not serious, I won't play with you anymore, Cheonje?"
"Kuh, here I go!"
Time to use what I just learned.
Raised sword at Dani Madam. Stepped forward, slashed full force.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡
[Kostas-style Elegant Swordsmanship – Decapitation]
Felt like I swung perfectly.
But what I saw was different.
Dani Madam lightly flicked the poker, smacking Almas's blade.
My sword glanced off oddly.
Thud.
In that gap, the poker touched my neck.
Parried a sword with just a poker.
"This is Form 0: Parry. Got it?"
"Madam, amazing!"
"Hehe, that's me♥ Now, eat."
"Yes!"
Learned precious swordsmanship.
Sat down.
Delicious food aroma stimulated my nose.
Casually asked.
"Eating together today too?"
"Today too?"
"Of course."
"Hehe, great♥"
Ate with Daniella.
This moment felt everyday yet blissfully happy.
Mid-salad, Daniella sighed.
Fork paused.
Worried about something?
"Madam, what's up?"
"Well, on the way, I saw the Baron step out briefly, so I checked his room."
"Oh, how was it?"
"His main office actually has a secret room."
I tilted my head.
Why need a secret room?
What for?
"Why?"
"Originally for resting during work, but now he mostly does his second-round field rights there."
"Guy's into all sorts."
What a psycho.
What's field rights, a company dinner?
"Got curious, checked it. Sigh."
I waited.
Definitely saw crucial evidence.
That'd be decisive.
One more reason the Baron deserves death.
Dani smiled weakly.
"Thought it had a small library or bed. All charred black."
"What?"
"Floor had magic circle-like drawing. Too faint and unclear to interpret."
"Wait, magic circle?"
What the hell.
I tilted my head.
Sudden thought struck.
"Is the Baron a heretic maybe?"
"Heretic? Heathen?"
"Yeah."
"Manaheim continent has many gods, sure."
"Huh, really?"
"Of course, primitive faiths of subhumans or evil gods exist too."
"That's enough. Gives grounds to oust the Baron."
"Really?"
I smiled confidently.
Even medieval Europe executed innocents as witches relentlessly.
People even enjoyed the spectacle.
But charred secret room with magic circle? By the lord?
'Super suspicious.'
Deciding today for the deed felt fateful.
Whether Demis agrees or not.
Today, we crush the Baron.
"Dani, tell Demis what you saw?"
"Yes, I'll do that. Vigilante Captain should get it!"
Get it or not.
If not resolved by now, I'd do it alone.
Baron must vanish.
For the territory.
For Madam.
"Please!"
Resolved, we ate.
Chatting with Daniella made it pleasant.
"So, Daniella likes novels?"
"Yes! Especially tender, forbidden love between high-status heroine and low-status hero!"
"Ah, haha."
"They elope in love, then downpour hits. Soaking wet, they enter a nearby cabin, dry clothes, finally consummate their distant love. Love that!"
"Haha, so like you, Madam."
Somewhere pure and whimsical.
Pure love type?
Not well-versed in novels, hard to tell.
So cute, our Dani Madam.
Rattle.
Daniella turned while wheeling out the cart.
Her eyes sparkled like stars.
"Wish the territory peaceful even one day sooner."
"It will be, today."
"I believe you, Cheonje♥"
"See you later!"
Daniella left.
I started acting immediately.
First, left the mansion.
Revolution today, place'll get noisy.
'Demis should respond. He's righteous.'
So my task now: one thing.
Crush the Baron where most people see.
But one precondition.
As I exited the mansion, Head Butler appeared.
Seemed instructing servants.
"Head Butler."
"Ah, adventurer. On a request?"
"Know where the Baron is?"
"Probably dining hall."
"Got it."
Location known, good.
No business with Baron yet.
One left: politics.
Want stronger justification before beheading.
'He's kill-worthy now, but maximize it! Like Dong Zhuo in Romance of the Three Kingdoms.'
Dong Zhuo's end?
Beheaded by trusted Lu Bu.
Corpse dumped in market, wick in navel, burned continuously.
Baron deserves that much.
'If so?'
Me and Demis become territory's savior heroes.
But who for agitation?
No one to entrust now.
Pondered.
'Harpy? No, no.'
Sighed, strolled mansion grounds.
Now stuck, frustrating.
Servants bustled by.
'Power-obsessed, neglected networking.'
As I sighed.
Someone approached.
"Hm?"
"You're the adventurer, right?"
"Yes, who?"
"Captain sent me."
A shady-faced soldier approached.
Captain: Demis?
Soldier glanced around excessively, lowered voice.
"If you need allies, we're in. Charge or assassinate, leave it to us."
"Risky."
"Had a little sister. Baron field-righted her, she couldn't live, suicided."
"Oh no."
"Many lost female kin to Baron. He deserves death."
See, support already this high.
So want perfect justification.
Might be trap, but.
Accepted offer first.
"No big need, just agitate. Lure Baron out, we'll beat him."
"Need more people then. Old Belken followers scattered. Find them."
"They'll listen?"
"Pay, they'll deify the devil. Northwest old plaza."
Soldier vanished.
One issue solved?
Got usable pawns at least.
'But pay, huh.'
What price?
Money hopefully.
Headed to old plaza as said.
Belken's gang trustworthy? Doubtful.
'If money-grubbers, not unreliable.'
Money answers all.
Moment I resolved to recruit.
📜 EMERGENCY QUEST 📜
Stir Up Cheers!
📍 Objective: Recruit residents near the old plaza.
🎁 Reward: Ularin Territory Resident Support +50
Fatefully, quest popped.
Briskly headed to old plaza.
