Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Peaceful Angmar #4
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Theo Gospel is weak.
His stamina runs out quickly no matter what he does. Naturally, he's an indoor type far removed from martial arts like swordsmanship or hand-to-hand combat.
His lack of street smarts is so severe that he can't even learn basic self-defense.
Instead, he possesses an exceptional memory that rarely forgets anything he's seen once and quick thought processes.
Even so, I sometimes felt regret over my lack of physical strength.
What if he learned magic? Someone might suggest that.
But strangely, I had no talent for magic either.
I made various efforts to learn magic from Aira, the great mage, but I couldn't even sense that thing called 'mana.'
━In the magic kingdom of Angmar, it's rare to find someone without talent like this. Theo, we might need to investigate your body more thoroughly.
Aira herself had been puzzled enough to say that.
I ended up not even mentioning learning magic to her, fearing she'd discover I was some unidentified entity possessing the character.
In the end, no talent for martial arts. Can't do magic either.
Just a creature barely surviving with a nimble tongue as its only weapon.
Perhaps that's what the character Theo Gospel is.
A despicable, pathetic one who struggles wretchedly and ends up executed in a single line. That's my fate.
But right now, it felt like a chance to twist that fate had come knocking once.
“If your comrade is truly a half-nymph, he might be able to receive the great blessing of Lord Angmar.”
A status window could appear for me too.
I could receive that convenient function from someone else?
This was news to me. If such a thing existed, I would have tried it long ago.
“Is that possible? I've never heard of that before.”
“It's something only imps can do discreetly. The imps' main job has always been to preach and spread the great blessing of Lord Angmar to everyone!”
That's why I didn't know when I first met an imp. An imp, of all things... How was I supposed to know?
“We don't usually do it for just anyone. But Theo Gospel, your contributions to the beasts and labor imps are as great as any zealous follower. So, just this once, as a special favor, comrade!”
Ooooh.
I barely stopped an exclamation from escaping my lips. Pretending nonchalance, I asked back.
“Is the method complicated or difficult? Does it hurt, or involve blood?”
“Simple. Takes less than 10 seconds. Just repeat a few words.”
“That short?”
It suddenly felt even more suspicious.
As I furrowed my brow, Marmar confidently puffed out her broad chest and said.
“Lies are complex and flashy by nature. Truth and sincerity are simple and easy. Now, kneel on the floor here.”
Makes sense. Logical.
Thump, thump.
My heart pounded like a child's before a picnic. With a 'nothing to lose' mindset, I knelt on the floor.
Marmar placed her hand on my head.
“You have to follow what I say with true sincerity.”
“Repeat after me?”
“The Lord loved the world so much that He gave a new great order. Those who believe in this shall not perish but gain eternal peace─.”
Tough words.
It even had the feel of ancient language.
Back when I wasn't Theo, the first time I went to church with a friend, the evangelists had me recite something similar.
Was it called the acceptance prayer?
I recalled it being like an initiation rite for becoming a church member. This seemed like a similar faith confession.
As those memories surfaced, Marmar said.
“It's a bit long, huh? Hard? I'll say it again. The Lord─.”
I cut her off.
“No, it's fine. I memorized it all.”
“Really? Smart guy. Then, say it with heart.”
“The Lord loved the world so much that He gave a new great order.”
Could this really create a status window? If so, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say a new order was truly born.
“Those who believe in this shall not perish but gain eternal peace.”
Now it was my turn to walk the flower path.
With that feeling, I recited the final line clearly and firmly.
“How is it? See anything?”
“Nope.”
Nothing appeared.
Was it a scam after all?
Was I a fool for believing an imp?
As doubt crept in, Marmar added an explanation.
“It might need an activation word, like magic. For me, saying 'Lord Angmar, forever' makes letters float in the air. Like self-hypnosis.”
“Ah, an activation word?”
I got needlessly scared.
Calming my tense heart, I recalled the word. Was there a better one for summoning letters in the air?
“Status window.”
“How about it? See anything? Not sure if it worked. A reverent, faithful heart is key.”
The imp Marmar spoke from beside me. Of course, I ignored her, staring at what floated in the air.
If asked if I saw something.
I did see something.
But it was a bit different from what I'd imagined.
There were no numbers or items that should be there.
「Sealed. - Cause: Pallagas cyanide poisoning」
That was it.
Just simple text, but it sparked a flood of thoughts in my mind.
Fortunately, my brain isn't that dull—I quickly grasped what it meant.
My system was sealed due to this 'Pallagas cyanide.'
What the hell is Pallagas cyanide?
At least, I didn't remember anything like that in the original novel.
I flipped through the thick encyclopedia I'd opened earlier while searching for imp entries. Maybe there was something on Pallagas cyanide.
And I found it.
「Cyanide: Material used to refine and strengthen magic tools. Lethal poison if ingested, historically used by the royal family to execute criminals.
Reacts with mana, so even tiny amounts can be fatal to the human body. Seek a healer immediately upon ingestion.
But when combined with other poisons, antidotes are hard to find, resulting in high mortality.」
A type of deadly poison like potassium cyanide.
Do I remember drinking something like this?
If it's poison ingestion...
I do.
A couple months ago, a maid trying to assassinate me poisoned me, and I suffered greatly. Was that the one?
As my thoughts expanded, I corrected myself.
The poison then was black arsenic, a different kind. So, as far as I recalled, I hadn't ingested this cyanide.
Pallagas cyanide.
How do I detoxify this?
All sorts of ideas flooded my mind.
The one that loomed largest was a beast with a hard shell and a venomous tail: a scorpion.
Scorpion.
Yes.
That guy definitely might have the antidote. He probably does.
“Hey, comrade, where are you going! Where am I supposed to sleep!”
* * *
There are assassins in this world.
A profession that secretly eliminates specific targets for various reasons.
Whether it's right to call such a sinister job a 'profession' is debatable, but professional contract killers undeniably exist here.
Kids proudly write 'assassin' as their dream job.
In the novel, the Villain Hunter party was constantly harassed by assassins throughout.
If I had to pick one memorable assassin villain, it'd be Death Stalker.
Death Stalker.
Cringeworthy name, but probably derived from a real desert scorpion species.
As the name suggests, he kept scorpions as pets and mainly used poison for assassinations.
In the original, he sneaked up on the protagonist party's priest and injected poison, nearly killing them. The comment section predictably exploded with 'Rape and kill that bitch.'
Thanks to that notoriety, it was firmly etched in my memory.
I headed to Monarch City's underground sewers, the deep, stinking, vomit-inducing underbelly.
“Where's the apothecary?”
“Over there, that way. First time at the underground market? Watch your back.”
Not my first time in this underbelly, but finding her place was tricky since it was my first visit.
Eventually, I spotted a wooden door painted with a potion vial. I knocked tensely—knock knock.
A voice came from inside.
━Who is it? Our apothecary is closed for the day. Come back tomorrow.
“But isn't the backroom business just getting started?”
The presence inside went silent at my words.
Slide. Click.
Creeeak.
━Come in.
The door slowly opened inward.
Mysterious smoke hugged the floor inside. A musty smell of boiling and brewing wafted out.
I think there was a similar description in the novel.
I stepped inside slowly.
There, a red-haired woman in a long black coat-like robe and glasses looked down at me coldly. Model-beauty vibes.
Around thirty? Definitely older than Elga or Aira, with that ripening allure.
This woman is Death Stalker. Apothecary by day. Alleyway assassin by night, killing people.
“Any companions?”
Her red eyes gleamed behind her glasses. I shook my head at her question.
“None. You don't take requests if someone's with them, right?”
Of course, guards were waiting outside in disguise, but a white lie would do. Lying is one of my specialties.
She glanced around and said.
“Looks like you heard about me from someone. Straight to business then. Who do you want dead?”
“I don't need to reveal who I am?”
“Doesn't matter. Just the pay and the target.”
No verification process? As I felt a twinge of doubt, the assassin Death Stalker gestured to the sofa.
“Have a seat. Looks like it'll be a long talk. Tea?”
Clink, clink.
Boiling tea was set before me. But I'm not dumb enough to drink tea in a poison user's home.
“Nothing's in it. Safe to drink. Everyone freezes up like this.”
The beauty chuckled—huhu. Having seen plenty of Aira, I had some resistance, but she was quite seductive.
The word 'bewitching' fit her perfectly.
No wonder the lecherous priest from Villain Hunter party fell for her.
Clink, clink. Stirring her teacup with a spoon, she asked.
“So, who do you want to kill?”
“To be precise, there's someone I want to save.”
“Then you came to the wrong place. I don't do saving.”
“More accurately, I'm here for an antidote. Know anything about Pallagas cyanide?”
“Ah—. Pallagas cyanide. Very old-fashioned poison. Not the type used to kill people. Been a while since I heard that name.”
“Is there a cure?”
“There is. Not in stock, but I can make it. So, who do you want to save with it?”
“Me. Theo Gospel.”
Slide.
I removed my hood. But even seeing my face, the assassin showed no surprise.
I asked.
“Did you know I was coming?”
“Of course. I sent an invitation. One scorpion. Black as if burned....”
Must be when Squirrel Kungkung got affection from Aira.
The scorpion that entered the house then—Aira burned it. This woman was involved, as expected.
“Monk Theo Gospel. Many want you dead, but I figured many you want dead too. Invited you as a potential customer. And here we are....”
She chuckled mid-sentence. Then continued.
“Didn't expect you'd come asking to save yourself, not kill someone. Was it the maid's poisoned tea back then?”
“No.”
“Figured. That was probably arsenic. Amateur work. I'd have used something else.”
“So you weren't the one trying to assassinate me?”
“Of course not. Why would I kill a potential big client? But Pallagas cyanide antidote... Not easy.”
Good. Her somewhat positive response made me cheer inwardly.
My vague guess was right.
In the novel, assassin Death Stalker was a mid-story episode villain who becomes Theo's subordinate.
I knew the backstory of how she joined him, and that would be a huge bargaining chip.
I decided to play one of my cards.
“If this goes well, we could be important partners, Baroness.”
“…What?”
“Eldest daughter of the fallen baronial house, Skoll family. Using the family secret formula to fund your sibling's rare disease medicine through dark dealings.”
“…….”
People go silent when caught off guard. Seemed true for Elga and this baron's daughter too.
“I erased all records of my past through the thieves' guild. How did you know…?”
How? I read it in the novel. She spilled it all herself before dying to Villain Hunter party.
But no need to say that—I just grinned. Death Stalker—no, Kallira Skoll, eldest daughter—removed her glasses and muttered softly.
“They called you a monk.... Didn't believe it.”