Chapter 168
Chapter 168
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: Clumsy Cultist
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The garden was incredibly vast.
Flowers, fountains, and statues were placed here and there, making it a feast for the eyes.
I could see a few dwarves sweating profusely as they sculpted marble in the garden.
"No, that's not the shape."
They were sculpting under the blazing sun without a care. It really looked like the soul of an artist was burning inside them.
But someone like me, without any taste or eye for that sort of thing, could only think something vulgar like, "I wonder how much that statue costs?"
After walking for quite a while, I finally reached the entrance to the mansion.
The three-story mansion looked incredibly grand at a glance. It had such presence that it reminded me of an indoor arena.
What must it feel like to live in a house like this?
Luna and I struggled every day just to clean our tiny two-story cabin.
Maintaining a house this massive would be impossible without impeccable management—dust would pile up everywhere otherwise.
And if dust built up, bugs might come.
If bugs came, terrifying spiders might spin webs to catch them. Filthy spiderwebs... Thinking about it, bigger houses weren't always better.
Of course, a place this enormous probably had plenty of servants cleaning every nook and cranny daily.
Click, clack.
There must be maids like that one.
"We've been expecting you. I am Sidney, the baron’s employee."
A woman with her blonde hair neatly tied back and wrapped in a white net greeted me at the entrance to the main mansion building. Sidney—was that her name?
Her black maid uniform featured a short skirt that reached mid-thigh, black stockings, and sharp black heels.
Why was everything black? It gave off a grim reaper vibe, kind of creepy.
On the flip side, my current getup with the mask and robe probably made me look like a total thug, scary in its own way.
"..."
This Sidney woman was the perfect maid serving nobility—her face betrayed not even the slightest emotion. She was quite a beauty, but it felt a bit of a waste that she was so stiff and cold. Or maybe that was her appeal.
Who knows.
Standing in front of the mansion, my brain seemed to be throwing up defenses, flooding me with pointless thoughts. Honestly, I had no idea what I was even doing here. Had the heat gotten to me?
"Healer, this way, please."
And so, the employee Sidney guided me inside the mansion.
I followed her narrow black back into the building.
Creeeak.
The massive entrance opened on its own. The inside was pitch dark, like no lights were on. Was it really okay to step in there? It made me hesitate.
Whoooosh.
It even looked like this giant mansion-beast had opened its deep throat wide, baring its maw.
It was scorching hot outside under the blazing sun, but the dark interior seemed to exude a chill.
It was like stepping into a completely different world.
"Come along. The baron is waiting."
Sensing my hesitation, Sidney turned back with a click-clack of her heels.
With an "eh, whatever" mentality, I finally committed and shoved my entire body into the mansion.
Creeeak. Slam.
The mansion door closed on its own the moment I did.
What the fuck?
Was it magic?
A door closing by itself? Fucking terrifying. How could a door shut without anyone operating it?
"The founder of the Fleur Barony was, long ago, a priest who served the god of magic and sorcery. The magic from that time lingers in this villa."
Sensing my fear, the employee Sidney offered a brief explanation. Magic, huh. Knowing what it was diminished the mystery, easing my dread a bit.
Come to think of it, automatic doors were a dime a dozen in my modern life. Nothing scary about it at all.
I was just intimidated by this dark, damp dungeon-like interior of the mansion. It was like a vast, shadowy cave.
Click, clack.
The only sound echoing across the expansive marble floor was the woman's heels.
There were a few people in the garden, but the mansion interior felt utterly empty, like it was just me and this woman.
Just the two of us in this huge mansion? Me and this creepy lady?
The thought was unbearable, so I finally spoke up.
"Is there no one else here besides us?"
"They've all hidden. They sometimes come out on their own at dawn."
"...I see."
It was pretty hard to grasp what she was even talking about. Rather than asking, I decided to shut up.
That's when Sidney, walking ahead, spoke up.
"It's lunchtime. Let's eat first. I'll guide you to the dining hall."
* * *
The dining hall was on the first floor of the mansion.
After winding through corridors, I pushed open a large door by hand, and with a creak, a fairly spacious room appeared.
Black curtains were drawn, turning it into a darkroom. In front stretched a long, long table. Surprisingly, the tablecloth was white.
But in this perpetual darkness, even that white started looking strangely unsettling, enough to induce neurosis.
"Please sit and wait. The baron will arrive shortly."
Following employee Sidney's instructions, I sat at the far end of the long table. Soon, she even draped a white napkin around my neck from somewhere.
"Then, if you'll excuse me."
Click-clack.
With that, Sidney vanished somewhere, her heels echoing.
Now, I was the only one left in this bizarre dining hall.
I busily scanned the surroundings, looking around.
Frames hung on the walls here and there depicted men with weird powdered-wig hairstyles like dinner rolls.
Since it was the baron's villa, they must be his family, ancestors, or the baron himself.
But the eerie part was that every pair of eyes had black X's painted over them. Pretty creepy.
What the hell, fuck.
Did I come here for nothing?
Should I just say I have business and bail now? As I was thinking that—
Creeak.
A door opened somewhere, and a heavy presence entered.
Thud, thud. Polished footsteps with sturdy soles approached.
Then, like last time, a man wrapped head to toe in black appeared and took a seat at the far opposite end of the table from me.
"I'm glad you came. I am Fleur von Pashone, member of the Small Council and seventh-generation descendant of the city's founding mage."
Baron Fleur.
So this guy owned this massive dark mansion.
"I only eat lightly for lunch. I hope you're satisfied with a small bird."
As he settled in and tied a napkin around his neck, Sidney wheeled in a cart and began placing dishes before me and Baron Fleur.
On my plate was a whole tiny bird about the size of my fist, roasted.
It looked tasty, but the portion was tiny. One bite and it'd be gone.
Quality over quantity, huh. Was this noble style?
Clink, clink.
A knife and fork were provided beside it.
I could've just grabbed it and torn in with my hands.
Clatter, slice, slice.
The baron began his elegant meal with fork and knife, so I had no choice but to follow suit, slicing into this sparrow-sized bird.
Fucking uncomfortable as hell.
"You have quite the refinement. Did you receive higher education? Perhaps from a noble house?"
Watching me struggle not to dislodge my mask, the baron commented.
He seemed impressed by my knife skills, honed from slicing pork cutlets since my school days.
I gave a vague answer to avoid revealing I was a Samarían.
"Well, something like that."
"I won't pry into why you're hiding your face. Especially since I'm hiding mine and even sealing off this mansion."
"..."
I didn't respond to the baron's words. This whole meal was just uncomfortable. I needed to wrap it up and go home.
So I asked.
"I have a schedule, so forgive my directness. You said your daughter is ill?"
"You heard from Valgo, I suppose. Yes. She is ill. Did you hear what kind?"
"The illness where her breasts shrink..."
"Indeed. It's been going on for a while. Not to brag, but our Pashone family has served the god of magic for generations. We are blessed with abundant mana as a result. Thus, the women of Pashone tend to have large breasts."
I couldn't quite connect abundant mana to large breasts.
But thinking about it, women like Elfriede or Witch Nemea—who wielded strange magic—did have big ones.
Like mana pouches or something.
Breasts as mana pouches. The thought cracked me up. Good thing I had the mask on.
"So, Viscount Clementor's son thinks my daughter has big breasts."
"I see."
"This is a grave matter."
I tried picturing why it was so grave.
If Luna and I were on our wedding night and she pulled out two massive pads from her cleavage, I'd be pissed and baffled.
"Sounds like a big problem."
"Whoever you are or whatever methods you use, I don't care. Make this marriage happen somehow. Do it, and you'll be rewarded handsomely."
"Even if it's illegal?"
"Illegal?"
The baron stopped eating and asked back. I could feel sweat trickling from my forehead down to my eyes. Of course, with the mask, I couldn't wipe it.
I endured and answered.
"It might involve unauthorized treatment without temple or official approval—illegal healing."
"Our Pashone family—no, I—have always suffered rumors and finger-pointing. Fleur who sold his soul to demons, Fleur who returned from death, Fleur who eats humans... Magic is often seen as sorcery or devilish tricks. That's why the rumors follow."
Slice, slice.
The man muttered incomprehensible words and resumed slicing the small bird. He speared it with his fork and chewed it with white teeth gleaming under the dark veil.
"And some of those rumors are true. Our family did anything for revival. So whatever you do, I won't be surprised."
He had a strange commanding presence. This was what it meant to be nobility standing above the masses.
"Could I see your daughter now...?"
"If you swear to keep everything in this mansion secret. And no matter what you see, don't be startled."
Slice.
The knife paused again.
Soon, Baron Fleur warned me in a gravely serious tone.
"I don't want to kill you."
Silence fell briefly. Only the scrape of knife and fork on plates followed quietly.
I couldn't imagine how this man, who spoke so harshly, would react to hearing, "I'll give your daughter a breast massage."
Fuck, should I just bail.
That's when Fleur pulled something from his black sleeve and placed it—thunk—on the table.
Clink.
It was a palm-sized metal bar. A gleaming gold one.
Shit, a gold bar. Was that a real gold bar?
Selling that could add a little yard to Luna's cabin.
"Please take good care of my daughter."
"Fuck it, I'll give it a shot."
* * *
In this massive three-story mansion with its garden, there was a space like a towering lighthouse spire. After climbing winding stairs for ages, you finally reached the attic room at the top.
It looked like a prison for princesses captured by an evil dragon or demon king. Apparently, the baron's only daughter, Brigitte, lived there.
Was the baron abusing his daughter? That's what I thought.
"Miss Brigitte likes high places."
From what employee Sidney said as she guided me, the baron's lady had chosen this lofty spot as her own room.
Thanks to that, I was fucking exhausted from climbing countless stairs. Fuck, I wanted to rip off the robe and mask right then.
"Hoo."
When I finally reached the top somehow, a door adorned with a flower wreath blocked my path. Fitting for a girl's room, the entrance was prettily decorated.
Click-clack.
Before I could knock, Sidney stepped back a pace behind me.
"I'll wait here."
"Can I go in alone?"
Was it okay to send a burly man into her room solo?
What if something happened? But this cold employee just stared blankly at my face, ignoring the question.
Well, it'll work out somehow.
Truth be told, I was a bit worried she'd follow me inside. Her staying out made things easier for me.
Knock knock.
I knocked on the door. Rustling sounds came from within, followed by loud crashing and banging.
"Who is it?"
Her voice had a cheerful lilt. Full of energy, not at all like someone ill.
"Is this Miss Brigitte? I'm, uh, the healer here to treat your illness."
"Ah, Dad brought another useless person. No need, go away. No one can cure my illness."
What the fuck?
This was a problem I hadn't anticipated.
The gold bar loomed in my mind's eye.
That dazzling golden bar made words spill from my mouth unbidden.
"Just let me diagnose you. I'm pretty good, you know. I've even enlarged a nymph's breasts."
"A nymph? Uncle, have you seen a nymph?"
Her voice from inside sounded intrigued. But fuck, uncle? It hit me like a sucker punch out of nowhere.
Fucking tough opponent.
"I've seen lots of nymphs. I know what they like. Nymphs love candy."
"Hmm, so nymphs like candy~"
Click.
Then, the firmly shut door slid open. My experience with paranoid folks must've helped crack this sealed door.
Hoo.
I straightened my robe and mask once more and exhaled.
This mansion had fuck-all mirrors, making it a pain to fix my appearance.
"Well then, I'm coming in, miss."
With that, I placed my hand on the knob, slowly pushed it open, and stepped into the fairly spacious, pleasant room.
Antique wallpaper adorned the walls here and there, and sunlight poured in through the window—brighter than I'd expect in the same mansion.
Pretty dolls and a fluffy bed completed the picture. Far more vibrant and dazzling than I'd imagined for a noble lady's room. It was blinding.
But on the bed cascaded black straight hair gleaming like a black curtain.
I was genuinely shocked.
Without the mask, my dumbstruck face would've been on full display.
"Uncle."
A fairly youthful girl with a cute face smiled brightly. Her cat-like eyes were slightly sharp.
"Uncle, did you really see a nymph?"
[Author's Note]
Those who've read my previous works know this, but I, Mitchuri, don't usually write super long novels for a web novel...
Still, this one has quite a few breadcrumbs I've scattered that need collecting, so it might end up the longest thing I've written...
I hope you all stick with it to the end, even if it gets lengthy ㅠㅠ... If readers don't read, Mitchuri goes bankrupt....
Eek...