Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Scandal's Bookmark (3)
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Caroline couldn't understand it.
Why Lady Hela kept trying to stick her to this man.
Not content with shoving her back and tripping her legs, now she was locked in this narrow, stinking room with the door bolted too.
Shouldn't a revelation point the way to saving the poor, enlightening the ignorant, and purifying the corrupt?
Shouldn't the shepherd's eyes, walking the highlands with his flock, shine brightly like the seven stars?
She had never heard of past saints receiving such trivial revelations.
"What the hell is this? Why won't the door open?"
Did Louis have some special quality?
Or was the goddess demanding something from this lowly inquisitor?
Or perhaps—
'Whatever it is, I have business with this guy.'
Caroline stubbed out her cigarette in the slowly rocking magic train car and asked.
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"You're Louis, right? Remember selling me this last time?"
She bared her teeth in a growl and lightly twisted his collar.
In the cramped smoking room, their bodies inevitably bumped in the process, but she ignored it.
She twisted her body to free her hip and lifted her chin.
"I'm asking if you remember...!"
"It's a Magic Cube. So what?"
Not even using polite speech now?
His bold attitude, as if he were just a mere canteen owner, only amplified her suspicions.
"Why'd you jack up a 50-gold item to double the price?"
"'Cause you called me 'uncle'."
"What? Just for that petty reason...!?"
Her lips trembled.
The inquisitor of the Blood Mark Brigade, whose name made even slum kids in the back alleys of Monarch tremble—treated like this.
Normally, she'd smash a mace into his face and turn him into mincemeat.
Instead of swinging an iron ball, her chest swayed with the train's vibrations, monopolizing the narrow passage between cars like a one-way street.
The door still wouldn't open.
As they glared at each other in the cramped smoking room, breathing heavily, Louis's scent spread instead of the tobacco aroma.
Regaining her composure, Caroline thought this was her chance.
"Answer what I'm asking."
A faint glow appeared in Caroline's eyes.
At the same time, the sole holy light she had awakened to upon becoming a saint activated.
"What's your real identity? The princess's lover? You can't be just a canteen owner."
"Yeah, canteen owner."
"Nothing else?"
"Nope."
The faint crack! sound near his solar plexus was drowned out by the magic train's roar as it departed.
In Caroline's mind, the verdict on Louis's answer was 'truth'.
She frowned silently, and Louis pointed to the door handle.
"That's all you're curious about? Open this."
"......"
He seemed to think this was all his scheming.
But Caroline didn't know how to open the door either.
She could only guess.
Maybe Lady Hela was saying: Settle accounts with this canteen owner who ripped off the saint with a Magic Cube.
Thinking back, the last time she tackled Louis had ended up somewhat like a mount position.
It was embarrassing, but she brazenly held out her hand.
"......Hand it over."
"What?"
"The 50 gold you scammed from me."
"Ha, fine."
Surprisingly, he rummaged in his pocket and handed over the gold coin obediently.
As his large hand brushed her soft, pale palm, click! The door unlocked.
"That good now?"
"......Get lost, hmph."
As Louis opened the door and left, Caroline picked up the cigarette she had flicked away.
She tried to light it with a deep sigh, but for some reason, only tik! tik! sounds came—no spark from the igniter stone.
Irritated, she yelled at the empty ceiling.
"Ah, now it's open! This isn't what you wanted!?"
Silence.
Only the train's jolts and the jingle of coins in her pouch answered.
"I did it, okay? I got the money back from that scammer! Using the faithful's donations for activities... Aaaah!!"
Suddenly, a potted air-purifying houseplant from the shelf fell on her forehead.
"Argh, what the hell is wrong with you—!"
Caroline screamed in frustration, covered in dirt.
"Ah, boss...!"
Liv had unpacked, changed into comfortable clothes, and was resting.
Fortunately, her escort was a woman—a fellow academy student, no less.
She excused herself to her friend with a smile and, unlike Erzebet, invited me into her room without hesitation.
A palm-sized booklet lay on the bed with its white sheets.
"What's this?"
"The scandal distributed to students... I mean, the Uzet map. Since it's a city stuck in a one-week loop, the magic tower and royal investigators have already mapped everything out. Didn't you know?"
"Nah, just heard the name."
"Then sit here. Let's look together."
Sitting side by side on the bed with Liv, the booklet was packed with intriguing details.
Not just a summary of events in Uzet from September 11th to 17th, but minute info too.
Like a strategy guide.
"The green-marked areas are safe zones. Yellow has supplies—you can get imperial currency there. Priority spot."
"Quite a few in the back alleys too?"
"Probably warehouses used by underground groups back then. If it's marked, even stealing gold there won't get noticed until the 17th—the end of the week—so it's safe."
Red zones were no-go areas.
Explanations like murders on the third day or patrol-restricted zones.
A city that resets every time.
With the right mindset, one could lounge or commit crimes for a week straight.
"Uzet's key spots, events, and people: the Grand Library where the imperial secretary sleeps, Marquis Elvin's birthday party on the sixth day, and the saint staying at the Temple of Light."
I gazed steadily at Liv's profile as she explained excitedly.
Her slender waist flowed into beautiful curves along her thighs, wrinkling the bedsheet.
Her soft, soothing voice whispered comfort as always.
"Of course, the library needs a pass, the party an invite, the temple the saint's permission—so past teams and students couldn't enter. Ah...!"
"Keep going."
As usual, I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her close, then stroked her sensitive belly—which she adamantly denied was sensitive—and moist sighs began mixing in.
"Couldn't check inside, eek! Forcing entry means, haa... caught by guards until training ends, so...!"
"What about brute force? Lehel's here this time."
"Tried, no use, ahn! Few entrants, empire prepared, against mages... ah! All set...!"
Makes sense—guys who slay dragons wouldn't go down easy.
Plus, one secretary in the Grand Library surely details hero summons, so security's tight.
Reason they open the empire's legacy to students: all info extracted already.
Just field trip vibes now.
Naturally, I wondered about Liv's plans.
"So, Baroness, what're you doing for the week?"
"That's... hngh! S-secret!"
Liv looked up at me with teary eyes.
But I had an ace attorney for coaxing suspects.
I flexed the arm endlessly rubbing her belly, vibrating to press her navel hard.
She clamped her mouth shut and flailed her legs wildly.
"Aahh!! W-wait! Boss...!"
"Spill. What're you up to? Somewhere dangerous again?"
"N-no...! Stop!"
"Stop what? I'll keep rubbing here till you talk...!"
—Hey, Liv? Everything okay?
Her escort friend's voice came from outside.
Liv hurriedly pulled away and fixed her clothes.
"Y-yeah, nothing!"
—Really? Heard weird noises.
"B-boss, not now...!"
"Tch, got it."
Staying longer might raise suspicions, so I left Liv and stepped out.
Her friend's glare was prickly.
"Louis, where'd you go?"
Erzebet immediately scolded as I returned.
She'd finished washing; damp blonde hair dripped lightly onto her light robe.
The prickly princess frowned suspiciously and approached, sniffing me.
"Smells like smoke?"
"No, just looked around."
"......Fine. Dinner in the dining car soon—unpack first."
"What's this?"
I pointed to the white bedding plopped in my compartment.
"Requested extra from staff. No need to come to my room now, right?"
"Wasn't planning to. Thanks, I'll use it."
"......"
No reply, so I looked up.
She froze mid-head shake, then averted her gaze hastily.
"Princess?"
"G-good! Anyway, something you must see. The chairman handed out booklets earlier—guidelines for Scandal... er, Uzet. Green is safe zones, yellow supplies..."
I heard the exact same explanation from Liv at Erzebet's door.
After, we split naturally heading to the dining car.
Students and escorts separated, obviously.
Mark, at a round table with white cloth, spotted and waved.
"Hey, Louis! Over here!"
Food came right after sitting.
Main: roast beef, grilled asparagus, Emmental cheese potato puree.
Decent for train food.
—Everyone! Training's started, right? Pay attention before eating—key theory time!
Students flooded in, noisily.
Lunchtime canteen PTSD flashed, but this was student-Lehel stuff, not mine—I ate busily.
Other escorts too.
Boris skipped, no appetite apparently.
"Ah, the saint's here too."
Mark muttered, lifting his head from his plate.
As Caroline entered, everyone gulped, mesmerized by her beauty.
Divine blessing accentuated her stunning feminine curves.
Sculpted features, pursed lips as red as her hair.
Plus overwhelming breasts impossible to hide amid train shakes.
—Damn, she's stacked...
—Idiot, swallow first.
—No wonder followers flock. Pharenchia's Light Temple donations tripled?
—Air feels different? Nice smell?
Tobacco-hardened mercenaries felt odd kinship with Caroline.
Ignoring them, Ansen appeared behind with the saint, passed her something, and split.
"Jealous—Ansen's her escort?"
"Church connections? Hey, Louis, you tight with royals?"
"Nah."
Ansen approached our table; I locked eyes and beckoned.
"Hey."
"Yes?"
"Sit."
He sat hesitantly, like a rabbit in a lion's maw.
Pouring wine in his glass, I lowered my voice.
"What's with you and the saint? What'd you just give her?"
"Well..."
I knew his weakness—his real identity—so I could pry about Caroline Magdalene.