Chapter 53

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 53

Chapter Title: Suspicious Request (6)

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'Shit, I'm screwed.'

The first thought that crossed my mind the moment I returned to the mansion was that I'd fucked up.

'I should've held my tongue... damn it.'

No matter how infuriating the situation had been, I absolutely should have kept my mouth shut in that moment.

Shariss was a powerhouse way beyond anything I could handle. On top of that, she was on par with top-tier players.

"...She won't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠come after me to kill me, will she?"

If that woman snapped and decided to come for my head, there'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be nothing I could do to stop her.

'Ha...'

Back on Earth, I'd always had a solid grip on my emotions, but here, sometimes they just slipped through my fingers.

'Anyway... no point dwelling on it right now. First things first, the chimera...'

With the chimera back, step one was checking how the maid had spent her day.

"Replay."

The chimera immediately appeared before me and began replaying the conversations she'd had throughout the day.

'Useless. Just morning chatter with the other servants.'

'This too...'

'Skip this one.'

'Pass on that.'

'...What's this?'

『Shariss.』

『Yes, miss?』

『That guy, Lee Yun-seong... doesn't he seem pretty decent?』

『Pardon?』

『I mean, he's handsome and all... and his personality's growing on me.』

『Ahaha... you think so?』

『Yeah. I'm working on him, but he won't bite. He looks like a player, but maybe looks can be deceiving?』

'You crazy bitch—who's calling who a player?'

I couldn't believe this woman, whose title literally read "Debauched Noblewoman," was judging my looks like this.

『Well... he might look the part, but maybe he's actually a prude when it comes to that stuff.』

『Nah, doesn't seem like a prude. I've been watching him, and he handles women with way too much finesse for that.』

『Maybe it's because of your status, miss. Could be he's hesitant to make a move on someone of your position.』

『Hmm... you think? Most guys love fooling around with highborn ladies. You know, that whole ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠conquest vibe.』

『Sure, some do... but guys who overthink things usually consider the risks first.』

'Fuck, why is this psycho giving her serious advice? They're both a piece of work.'

『Really? Then maybe I should approach him more carefully?』

『Yes, that might be best for a type like him. Tread lightly.』

『Got it. Thanks, Shariss. Oh, right... I need to hit the market soon to pick some things up.』

'Market?'

『...Shall I prepare for it?』

『Yeah, thanks. Look for a good male slave while you're at it. Things have been... building up lately.』

'...Black market.'

Talking about slaves meant the black market for sure. Slavery was legally banned in the neutral nation, after all.

'...If I can gently coax the location out of her, I should.'

The black market could come in handy for me too, so it was worth knowing about.

I skipped through the rest of the conversations since they seemed pointless.

'Nothing here.'

'...Skip.'

'...This one...'

『Shariss.』

『...Old hag, what do you want? I told you not to contact me.』

'Who's the other voice?'

The voice on the other end was unfamiliar. I kept listening.

『...Word is they've found Barhn's hideout there.』

Finally, something useful. From the context, "Barhn's hideout" had to be the dungeon we'd discovered.

'Barhn? Who's that?'

『That idiot's fault. I specifically told him no experiments here.』

『......』

『I said I'd lay low. If you're gonna fuck around, do it among yourselves. Why pull your shit right where I am?』

『Hmm... but we were comrades once. Isn't that a bit harsh? Barhn may be dim, but he was one of us.』

『Comrades my ass. That deadweight? Sorry, but since it's Marquis Geon Baek's territory, you lot need to choose—dump that bastard or not.』

『...Hmm.』

『It's over the moment they sniffed out the hideout. My advice? Cut Barhn loose. Especially since it's the marquis's land.』

『...Did you really clean house?』

『Ha... I told you. I just want to live quietly. That's what Citri wants too, right?』

'Citri?'

I remembered seeing the title "Citri's Second Finger" in her status window.

'Citri was one of the demon legion commanders... so these guys are tied to demons?'

『Fair enough... nothing more to say.』

『Anyway, I'm hanging up, old hag. Don't call again. I'm done with you lot.』

『Sorry. Understood. Live the life you want.』

『Click.』

『Ha... well-wishes my ass. Just stay out of my way, you crazy old coot.』

After that, it was just useless chatter and talk about meeting that noble heir from before.

'Solid gains today.'

This chimera was proving to be an incredible asset.

'Nothing beats it for info warfare.'

And another takeaway: this request wasn't as serious as I'd feared.

'Whoever Barhn is and whatever he's up to... from the sound of it, the others plan to abandon him since it's Marquis Geon Baek's territory.'

From their exchange, Barhn sounded like a screw-up—idiot, deadweight. Weaker than Shariss, at least.

'Still, better not have our party tackle it, just in case.'

I had no idea how strong Barhn was, just that he was beneath Shariss. No reason to assume he'd go easy on us.

She'd probably listen if I suggested she hire a decent party for the raid.

'The real question is what these assholes are really up to...'

Shariss had backed off the seduction gig, fine. But the caller and the others? Unknown quantity.

One thing was clear: they were linked to demons or the demon legion commanders.

'No point overthinking it now. Just file it away.'

If it wasn't something I could solve right here, no need to complicate things. With Seo Yu-ju around, she'd handle anything major.

The next day, I ran into Shariss by chance at the mansion and gauged her mood.

'Damn... everything okay?'

It had to be.

I passed her by like nothing had happened yesterday.

"...Um."

Her voice calling out made me scream internally.

'Shit...!'

"Haha... good to see you, Shariss. About yesterday..."

"...I'm sorry about yesterday. You got dragged into my mess for no reason."

"No, no. I think I said something out of line. Please don't hold it against me."

"...Don't worry about it. Anyway, sorry again."

"It's fine. I'm not bothered at all, so no need to apologize. Well then..."

"Um..."

'Fuck...'

"...Yes? Is there something else?"

"...No."

"Alright. See you."

'Guess I should be grateful nothing came of it.'

I'd worried she might hold a grudge, but she didn't seem to harbor any ill will.

'Phew... time to head back to the clan ASAP.'

I kept tabs on Shariss while at the mansion, but no new intel. That one call was it. Looked like she'd truly washed her hands of it.

Shariss issue: resolved. Tierra was charmed but hadn't crossed any lines—barely. I'd need to play it long-term, weighing pros and cons of getting closer.

One snag: I wanted black market access from her, but no way to get it. She wouldn't bring it up, and I couldn't ask outright.

'...Headache.'

Truth was, I'd buttered her up for that route, but came up empty.

For now, I'd shifted surveillance from Shariss to Tierra.

Tierra had been hounding me lately—frustrated I wasn't biting, maybe.

'Time to cut ties?'

I had a poisoning plan ready if she got too pushy or crossed a line, but that was a last resort.

Dumping the marquis's precious daughter would bring his wrath, unavoidable.

'As long as it doesn't trace back... but it's messy, no need unless desperate.'

It was the last of our seven days at the mansion, so I was heading to see Tierra with the party.

Knock.

Knock.

"Lady Tierra, it's Seo Yu-ju. May we come in?"

- Ah, come on in.

Opening the door revealed a slightly weary-looking young woman. The dungeon discovery must've piled on the stress. Shariss stood politely beside her.

'Marquis is away, so yeah, tough spot for her. What does a spoiled brat know?'

"Lady Tierra, since this is our last scheduled day, we wanted to hear your plans for the request."

Seo Yu-ju addressed her. We were clan members; couldn't stay forever.

No resolution on the bounty, so we'd wrap it up with reduced pay or whatever.

"Hmm..."

Tierra seemed torn on whether to send us packing.

"......"

About a minute of waiting, and she finally spoke.

"Would you consider raiding the dungeon?"

"...Lady Tierra, as I said before, it's beyond our level..."

"I've commissioned another clan too."

"...Another clan?"

"Yes. Like you said, investigations suggest it's a Hero-grade dungeon."

"...May I ask which clan?"

"Myth Clan."

Myth Clan. I flinched. Never imagined a connection to Yun Yeon's clan here.

Seo Yu-ju looked surprised too.

"...Myth Clan? So you'd like us to team up with them for the raid?"

"Yes, exactly. And if you accept, I'll up the compensation. Hero-grade means the original pay won't cut it."

It wasn't a bad deal. Teaming with Myth Clan meant safety, and we'd gain valuable Hero-grade experience.

'Hero-grade raid experience... we'll need it eventually. Not a bad offer.'

A bit early—less than a year in—but Myth Clan's strength made it viable.

'Jumping from Rare to Hero right after... rushed, but...'

Guaranteed safety? Perfect growth path.

Still, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠couldn't agree blindly. Barhn's involvement meant it wouldn't be easy.

As we pondered, Tierra dropped a bombshell.

"Think it over carefully. Myth Clan's clan master said she'd join personally."