Chapter 213
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 213
Chapter Title: Who Did What?
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‘Why.’
While London was plunged into chaos.
Amid the anxiety and unease gripping everyone else, one woman began to move alone.
A beauty who stood out in every way, from her luxurious dress to her appearance.
But now, her stunning face was horribly contorted as she raced through the darkness, screaming inwardly over and over.
‘Why, why, why!’
It had been so simple.
Clear away the twilight mist, let the shadow monsters run wild, and have the Kaiser seize power in the British Empire during the chaos.
Then she would secure a position in the Empire for her services and get recommended for a spot as a Liberation Brigade wraith.
It was a golden opportunity where one song could yield so much, with zero risk.
Or at least, there shouldn’t have been.
‘Why are those monsters suddenly going berserk? What’s the Kaiser doing? And what the hell is this mess?’
A Liberation Brigade executive.
Claire gnashed her teeth.
As someone who wasn’t a wraith, her knowledge was limited.
She didn’t even know the Kaiser’s true goal: the Seven Arcs.
But the moment she saw the shadow monsters turning to attack even her indiscriminately, she knew things had gone seriously wrong.
‘And why the hell did that damn violinist Reinge have to show up!’
That’s why Claire had decided to escape London.
The instant that violinist started playing in the heart of the city, her instincts told her it was too dangerous to stay.
The problem was how to escape.
If the Blue Dragon Clan pursued her, they’d catch her in an instant no matter where she fled.
Fortunately, though, she had a trump card that could shake off all pursuit and get her out of London.
Kuoooo!
“Shut up!”
Bam!
Claire exploded a monster blocking her path with a single shout amid her haste and kept charging forward.
A few more monsters appeared behind her now and then, but the outcome was the same.
She was a duke-level player herself.
Anything above floor 80 might be a challenge, but mid-to-low floors like this dungeon? She could clear them blindfolded.
After blasting through the dungeon at near-flight speed and shattering the boss in one go, Claire quickly scanned the boss room.
She approached the fourth torch on the inner wall, twisted its stand sideways.
Rumble rumble.
One wall slid open, revealing a hidden chamber.
Claire leaped inside and shouted urgently at the massive magic gate in the center.
“Gate open!”
It happened right then.
The space in the gate’s center rippled, manifesting a door of bluish light.
Seeing it, Claire’s face lit up as she dove straight in.
Splurt!
But just before entering the light door.
Claire froze.
Before she could fully leap inside, a dagger pierced her chest.
“......Why?”
Unable to accept this reality.
Even as she vomited blood, Claire’s voice held more bewilderment than fear or shock.
[Coming with a tail dragging behind you? You idiot.]
“......!”
As if finally realizing something.
Her eyes bulged, lips trembling before she lost focus and her head drooped.
The one who’d plunged the dagger into her chest stood beyond the light door, green eyes gleaming as it spread gloomy telepathic waves.
[Tell your master: he won this time.]
Empty air, nothing visible.
Staring beyond the dungeon’s deep shadows, the green-eyed figure continued coldly.
[Revel in your joy for now.]
[But remember this.]
[There won’t be another blunder like this, and in the end, we—the ones blessed by the stars—will triumph.]
As if that was all, the green glow faded, the light door vanished cleanly.
Claire’s corpse slumped to the ground without support.
Then, a shadow in the dungeon corner rippled, revealing Weyling—a woman disguised as a man from the Shanghai Wang Clan’s intelligence unit of the Seven Dragon Society. She gazed coldly at the body before speaking.
“You’ll soon learn that the Seven Dragon Society said the same thing plenty of times. Liberation Brigade wraith.”
Walpurgis Night.
The festival that should have been joyous ended in utter pandemonium with monsters and ghosts running rampant.
Thanks to most citizens evacuating beforehand, casualties were miraculously avoided—but only for the people. The scars left on London were far from minor.
Buildings collapsed from the battles, roads shattered, cultural heritage damaged, personal losses, and more.
The financial damage alone was incalculable.
But the mental toll was even greater.
[Duke Karl Amadeus passes away.]
[The royal family announces preparations for a state funeral for Duke Karl, who fought to the end to protect the British Empire.]
[The Makers Guild, per the Mage Lord’s final wishes...]
The Mage Lord’s death.
The news rocked London, Europe, and the entire world.
It was the first time since the Iron Age began that an absolute ruler—a lord—had died.
The shock to magic players and the British Empire’s citizens who revered him as a hero was profound.
It was so immense that even Crown Prince Edward’s disappearance amid the chaos barely registered as news.
That’s why Rimon spoke so indifferently.
“So they’re just burying it all in the end?”
“The truth doesn’t always bring happiness, after all.”
Rose wore a bitter expression.
The British public was already reeling from the London incident.
Revealing that Crown Prince Edward was the mastermind, with Karl fanning the flames, would spark total mayhem.
“Fine, whatever with the jerk part, but they buried that bastard real good. Thought dealing with royalty would be trickier.”
“We explained the situation to Duke Robert and got his cooperation.”
“Cooperation? From you guys?”
Rimon looked surprised.
Rose gave him a faint smile.
“Our clan has learned a thing or two.”
She spoke calmly, saying she now knew hiding everything and shouldering the blame alone wasn’t always best.
Gazing at her steadily, Rimon chuckled.
“Accepting help in moderation is good, but pick your partners wisely. A guy like Duke Robert is a power player.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Power players were creatures who could politically exploit even a grave secret like this for gain.
To Rimon’s advice, Rose replied evenly.
“If he steps out of line, we’ll deal with him then.”
“No mercy, huh?”
“Duke Robert isn’t some weakling needing my leniency.”
“Fair enough.”
‘That bastard won’t dare act up if he doesn’t wanna end up dead.’
Rimon muttered inwardly.
By collapsing London’s grand barrier and causing this mess—losing even the absolute Karl—the Makers Guild was cornered.
Conversely, the Ciserpent Earl family solidified their role as the Empire’s shield, gaining even greater prestige.
With power tilting this way, no power holder would want to irk the Blue Dragon Clan now.
Indeed, the gifts and donations flooding the Ciserpent estate right after Walpurgis Night proved it.
Even if a new lord rose in the Empire, they wouldn’t dream of challenging the Blue Dragons for decades.
“You’ll be busy for a while.”
“Yes, London will face hard times ahead.”
Of course, it also meant the Ciserpent family would be swamped.
Grasping the Empire’s power included shouldering London’s reconstruction.
“But it’s fine.”
Still, Rose didn’t look grim.
She merely smiled faintly at the construction everywhere and the bustling workers.
“If our clan works together with the citizens, we can overcome this hardship quickly.”
Not ‘I’ can handle it, but ‘we’ can pull it off.
Gazing at the composed Rose for a moment.
Rimon smirked.
“Good to hear.”
“Pardon?”
“You won’t be overworking yourself alone like before, Earl.”
“Ah......”
Finally understanding.
Her cheeks flushed slightly with embarrassment as she cleared her throat and composed herself.
“With more work comes more fatigue, but I’ll make sure to get proper sleep, so don’t worry.”
“Good, you do that.”
She felt awkward watching Rimon cackle, but then something occurred to her.
“By the way, are you sure you don’t want any reward?”
“I came to London to catch that Liberation Brigade wraith in the first place.”
Rimon shrugged.
He’d had three goals: two of his own, plus one from Syr. Wrapping them all up neatly—and getting a great mage like Syr on long-term retainer for free—was reward enough.
As proof, he patted the box on his back.
“Got a hefty gift already. More rewards would just embarrass me.”
“I see......”
Rose nodded.
Then murmured with a complicated expression hard to pin down.
“Then this is farewell.”
“Yeah.”
“......Before you go, may I ask one last thing?”
“What’s on your mind?”
Rimon replied casually.
As if ready to answer anything.
He’d figured from the start she’d ask about his identity.
“You’re......”
That made her expression even more conflicted.
His nonchalant attitude showed he had no clue what she wanted to ask.
After hesitating long.
Rose swallowed the question on the tip of her tongue and smiled faintly instead.
“If I ever want to hear your performance again, may I invite you to the estate?”
So unexpected he blinked.
Rimon grinned mischievously.
“I’m a busy guy. If you wanna hear it that bad, the Earl’ll have to come find me herself.”
“What a shame.”
Hiding 100% genuine regret behind a smile, Rose slowly extended one hand.
The moment Rimon reached to shake it.
She gently pulled his hand.
Caught off guard.
Seizing the moment of his bewilderment, Rose drew his hand to her lips and lightly kissed the back.
She smiled faintly at his dumbfounded face.
“If you ever need help, come to us anytime. The Blue Dragon Clan will welcome you gladly.”
“......Earl, you saying that because you don’t know who I am?”
“The hero who saved London, and the finest performer.”
Any other identity was none of her or the clan’s concern.
So don’t worry about it.
Rimon stared incredulously at her casual words, then chuckled and grabbed her wrist in reverse.
Pulled her in and kissed the back of her hand.
Not expecting retaliation like this.
Her eyes widened in shock, face flushing instantly as Rimon beamed.
“Take care, Earl.”
“......You too.”
Rimon frowned.
Weyling had already boarded the train with him when Yuna Kyung sent her frantic telepathic message. He shot back curtly.
‘What’s the sudden fuss?’
Rimon steeled himself.
If it was something trivial like forgetting souvenirs, he’d flick her forehead three times.
But luckily, Yuna Kyung dodged that disaster.
The news Weyling had just relayed was big enough to warrant the panic.
“......Who did what?”