Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Shell Castle Secrets
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Eight-Colored Shell Castle, 1st Floor Main Hall.
Bella was sitting on the jade throne.
"Master. Why are you alone today?"
"My companions are resting at the castle, so I came to check if the shell is safe in the meantime... But do you always wait for me here on the throne like this?"
Bella let out a light chuckle.
"What a ridiculous question. Did you forget my specialty is dimensional magic? I sense you coming and rush over to the throne. What kind of slave wouldn't greet her master when he comes home?"
Bella had that same elusive quality as Esty—vanishing and appearing out of nowhere.
If Esty wielded spirit magic to traverse spaces, Bella was a goddess who interfered across worlds and dimensions.
The sight of such a goddess, reduced to a pussy slave, scurrying over to greet me? Honestly, the more I pictured it, the cuter it got.
"Safe? What a trivial worry. Did you forget who made that shell?"
"Who did?"
"Me."
"I figured you collected it somewhere since shell collecting is your hobby."
"I did collect it. I just added features and customized it for convenience. You already know you can peek into your original world from this one, right?"
"Yeah."
I fully realized that function when moving the Thin Wolf's corpse.
It was impossible for me to carry the wolf's body with my own strength, so I teleported to the Eight-Colored Shell Castle first, spotted the table outside, and precisely warped it over.
And it worked effortlessly.
"So if some malicious bastard messes with it, I can step out and deal with them?"
"Not only that—they couldn't damage it even if they tried. I've layered protective magic on the shell."
Bella's magic. That was reassuring.
Her words just confirmed that no ordinary person could break the shell.
"Plus, the Eight-Colored Shell only responds to authorized users. Right now, that's just me and you."
"It even recognizes users? I didn't know that."
Pretty convenient, huh?
"But it's still an object, so someone could pick it up and move it. If they dump it somewhere unwanted, you might end up exiting in the wrong place."
"Exactly. Toss it in the ocean, and you're stuck inside with no way out."
"Have you ever opened the shell?"
"Nope?"
"Inside, it'll be packed full of pearls. Use a pearl to expand your field of view or teleport to wherever one is placed."
"Oh."
"Then, summon the shell into the storage case I gave you, and you can retrieve it no matter where it is."
"Impressive."
"You bet! Who do you think made it?"
Bella puffed out her chest proudly.
"So if I plant those pearls in women's bathrooms, bathhouses, or the rooms of girls I like, I can lie back in the castle and peep away?"
"......"
That's insane. Hidden cam pearls?
Bella fixed me with an icy stare.
"Master. That actually pisses me off. It's disgusting."
"It's an artifact made by a goddess herself—the quality's on another level! I love that only we authorized users can access it. Let's keep this our little secret. I'll hand them out to the girls and enjoy the show."
"I'm glad you appreciate the caliber... but you're such a total pervert, Master? You only use hypnosis for depraved shit."
"You don't get it. Hypnosis is perfect for the stuff that turns you on."
"......"
Until now, I'd only focused on the castle's functions, not deeply considered the Giant Eight-Colored Shell's inherent features.
The best part was how it was built entirely around user convenience.
"Isn't there like a real manual? Even I, who hates reading instructions, want to pore over it."
"Would I make one? It wasn't built for just anyone to use.
I've tinkered and abandoned features over centuries—there's countless ones even I don't fully know.
I only just remembered the [Eight-Colored Pearls]..."
"Hmm. So that's your hobby."
"More precisely, collecting shells. All the shells along that coastal shore? Collected by me."
That made sense. Even the scattered shells on the beach were Bella's touch.
This world was a shattered fragment, right? The ocean probably cuts off somewhere, so the ecosystem couldn't be normal.
At first, I thought handing me some random shell was a joke, but it really was one of Bella's treasures.
"Collecting what you like. Nice hobby."
"Don't lump it in with your girl-collecting habit, please?"
"They're similar?"
"Hah. Who's your favorite girl, the one you treasure most?"
"......"
Hmm... Tough to pick one.
"Depends on the moment. The new ones I met today were great."
Tillia and Diana. Both beauties.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to Hero Academy.
Haven't decided yet if I'll store them in the Shell Castle or play with them and discard.
"Ah, this isn't the time."
I pulled up the menu.
"Bella. Prepare dinner. I'll bring the three of them."
"Got it, Master."
"Keep it secret that carrying a pearl lets me peep!"
"......"
Bella sighed deeply.
"Poor girls, suffering from Master's pervert tastes."
I approached Bella and pinched her cheek.
"Ahh, haa."
She glanced at me like what are you doing, but didn't resist.
That was Bella's cute side. The haughty goddess stance, spouting tough words, while always ready to submit as a pussy slave.
I pried open her jaw and slipped my fingers into her mouth, grabbing her tongue.
"...Hah... Hngh..."
As I held her tongue still, her saliva dripped down my fingers.
"I said it depends, right? Right now, you're my favorite."
"......"
I released my hand, then gently pulled her into a hug, smacking and kneading her ass.
Bella, face flushed, glared at me with a mix of frustration and said,
"...Fine. I get it, Master. It'll be our secret."
"Good."
I shared a kiss with the yielding Bella, then returned to my original world.
Karen and Esty were huddled together, chatting.
"Ah, bro!"
"What were you talking about?"
"Oh, we were discussing watch rotations in case we need to guard the shell."
"Then forget I heard that. I just confirmed it's got goddess-level protection magic."
"Wow!"
Karen gasped in admiration.
"No need for night watches while camping out. Plus hot baths and comfy beds... This is too good!"
"Where's Noah?"
"Lord Decal. You've returned."
Noah appeared behind me.
"Whoa!"
"Sorry for startling you. My attire is designed to blend into the night..."
"Were you talking to the coachmen?"
"I went to warn them, in case curiosity draws them too close."
Seems she told them not to approach the carriage at night.
The coachmen looked pretty spooked.
"Didn't scare them too much?"
"No. They're frightened for another reason."
"Another reason?"
"......"
As Noah hesitated, Karen boldly jumped in.
"I'd be scared too! Bro, you forgot how you bet the coachmen's lives in that duel?"
"Oh yeah..."
Tillia mentioned it too.
Asked if we even needed to consult the coachmen.
I brushed it off, saying if they fled, I'd offer my own neck.
"Today's events would overwhelm any normal person.
Betting lives, dueling a prominent noble house, and then... punishing Miss Diana so brazenly. Utterly shocking."
Now I got what Noah meant.
The coachmen feared not her, but me.
Mad adventurer! Decal. Hahaha.
"You all thought of my side, but I didn't consider the outsiders' view. What impact do you think this'll have?"
"The duel alone is buzzworthy, but once word spreads about what happened to Miss Diana, it'll be all over the capital in no time.
Vanguard will grit their teeth and try silencing it, but it'll be futile. Your name, Lord Decal, will be known to all within two days."
"Hahaha."
"Bro, this isn't funny..."
"I agree. Protecting you will be twice as hard now."
"Imagining Diana's face makes it all worth it."
Hiding under the covers in shame?
Or chewing her lip bloody, stewing in rage and hatred toward me?
"Noah. We promised the coachmen extra pay for this mess, right? How much?"
"25 gold each for the three."
I took most of my money—100 gold—poured it into a coin pouch, and handed it to Noah.
"Lord Decal. What's this?"
"Bonus for the mental strain. Divide it up fairly."
"Understood."
Noah took the gold and headed to the coachmen.
A bit of cash brightened their faces right up.
Nothing buys goodwill like money, right?
"Thank you!!"
An anonymous coachman shouted our way, bowing deeply.
I waved back and waited for Noah.
"How'd it go?"
"They were thrilled. You never use hypnosis in moments like this?"
"Nah. Too much hassle."
Not even cute girls.
Casting hypnosis takes effort, and honestly, I don't care about their names or faces.
But generosity has its perks.
"I'm never short on cash anyway.
More importantly, if they spread good word about my generosity back in town, I won't need to hypnotize individuals—hundreds, thousands will hear about my spending habits.
Makes gathering people a breeze when I need them."
"Bro, you're so smart!"
"...If only you hadn't made enemies of a noble house."
"Do what gets you off. Remember that."
Noah smiled.
"Whoa, Noah smiled."
"I'm starting to grasp what it means to serve you, Lord Decal."
"Oh, got gifts for you all."
I opened the Giant Eight-Colored Shell.
Inside, Eight-Colored Pearls were piled in grotesque abundance.
Glistening under moonlight alone, they shone so brilliantly it seemed they glowed on their own.
I picked one from the heap, dropped it on the carriage floor, and handed one to each.
"What's this, darling?"
"Eight-Colored Pearls. Lets you teleport to their location from the castle.
Emergency measure in case someone moves the shell while we're inside. Everyone take one."
"Such a function... Convenient."
"Plenty more if you lose it."
"So sparkly and pretty."
Karen stared at hers, delighted for a good while.
I snapped the shell shut.
"Noah. Wanna bash the shell with your weapon? Full force, like you mean to smash it."
"You sure?"
"Heard about the goddess protection on my way back.
Just a quick check."
"Goddess protection... Understood. Confirming it myself will ease my worries too."
Shadows gathered on Noah's hand.
They extended to her elbow, forming a morning star.
Another reminder that Noah, like Esty, didn't carry her weapon openly.
A trait of the strong?
Noah spun the morning star with her wrist.
"Please step back a moment."
I retreated a few steps with Karen and Esty.
The spin accelerated. Noah stood calmly, waiting for the right moment, then slammed the morning star down on the shell.
Simple motion. Just dropping the max-centrifugal-force weapon from above.
But I didn't see it move.
Only realized after it hit.
A heavy thud echoed like a battering ram on castle walls. Unbelievably, the impact stirred faint wind pressure.
Skin tingled like a mild shock.
Explanation makes it sound minor, but seeing it? The invisible power screamed top-tier attack skill.
The ground where the Giant Eight-Colored Shell sat cratered.
But the shell? Not a scratch.
"...Hmm."
"What do you think, Noah?"
"Hardness beyond this world's materials."
Esty nodded.
"Noah's strike would've shattered mithril."
...Mithril? That game stuff?
Only I was clueless on the scale. Steel level? Probably tougher.
"Bella said the shell itself is just normally gathered.
The protection magic must be top-tier."
"Another level entirely."
"...The power of a goddess."
It hooked the strong ones— Noah and Esty peered at the shell, nodding in unison.
"Safety check done. Time to rest."
"Yeah!"
Karen replied energetically.
We all teleported to the Eight-Colored Shell Castle together.