Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: What the Hell Is That Perverted Answer?
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Cecilia's dinner was a hearty affair, and after tucking Chloe in with care, Tail headed straight for the monastery entrance.
Thankfully, the workers had all turned in for the night, leaving the area around the entrance deserted and silent.
'A quick trip out and back should be fine.'
Time was of the essence, so Tail slipped out of the monastery slowly, bracing for a scolding if caught later.
The streets beyond the alley were shrouded in quiet darkness.
Tail walked slowly, lost in thought.
He suspected there were two main reasons for Cecilia's downfall in the original story.
'I got a hint on the first from what Chloe and Cecilia said.'
Her older brother's absence and death.
But Tail was certain.
This alone wouldn't have shattered Cecilia's spirit.
No matter how heartbroken she was over losing her son, he'd glimpsed enough of Duchess Duvier's nature to know she'd do everything to lift Cecilia up.
Yet in the original story, she hadn't.
'It was the second reason.'
Her father's death.
Marquis Duvier was soon to die on the battlefield.
Marquis Duvier.
Not much was known about him.
But this, Tail remembered clearly.
"Ah... Cecilia seems kinda pitiful now that I think about it."
It was something Yerin had said.
"Her dad died at the hands of a close comrade who turned out to be a spy. And Cecilia was super close to that spy too, so after that, she was so shocked she just shut herself off emotionally."
Back then, Tail had brushed it off, clicking his tongue about how pointless the betrayal was since the Bellenuus Empire won anyway.
Yerin had rolled her eyes slightly at his words and replied,
"Right before execution, that comrade said his son was a POW in enemy territory, so maybe it was for his kid?"
Recalling his conversation with Yerin, Tail let out a short groan.
'I've got almost all the hints now.'
This time, he wouldn't let Cecilia go astray.
The coin drop was one thing, but something else gnawed at him too.
The image of that frail little girl trembling and sobbing with all her might was still vivid in his mind.
Pity, sympathy—he wasn't sure what to call it. But one thing was clear: he didn't want to see a child that small crying her heart out like that.
'So I'll stop it somehow.'
By then, Tail had come to a stop.
A familiar sign loomed before him.
[King Super BAR]
Staring at the sign, Tail muttered under his breath.
"Ha. Seriously, change that damn name."
Tsking his tongue, he descended into the basement.
Tail reached the innermost room of the bar, bathed in dim orange light.
As he opened the door, he saw a figure seated behind the bolt.
"Khan. I'm here."
"Good. Faster than I expected. The investigation on Marquis Duvier is complete."
Come to think of it, it was impressive.
How had they finished the report in such a short time since he'd commissioned it?
'As expected of the guild that's destined to top the empire.'
Tail was genuinely impressed.
"The documents are on the left table."
At Khan's words, Tail grinned and approached the table.
Just before he opened the report titled 'Everything on Marquis Duvier,' Khan spoke up urgently.
"This one was tough, so I want extra pay."
Tail let out a hollow laugh.
"Dude, you say that before the commission, not after."
"..."
Khan fell silent.
It was a fair point.
Tail chuckled at the sight and said,
"I'll read it first and decide."
Tail flipped open the report immediately.
The info on Marquis Duvier was incredibly detailed.
From age, height, weight, to relationships, personality, and assets.
'Whoa. They really dug into everything.'
Then, Khan's mouth opened slowly.
"Looks like the Bellenuus Empire is planning a top-secret mission, and the commander of that team is none other than Marquis Duvier."
"Holy shit. You even found that out?"
Tail's eyes widened in surprise.
"How?"
A secret mission, by definition secret.
How the hell did they know?
Pure shock and curiosity shone in Tail's eyes.
Khan continued with difficulty.
"...Trade secret."
Tail tsked in disappointment and returned to the report.
The marquis probably died during this secret mission.
'Cecilia said he's super thorough and strict.'
The report confirmed it under personality.
[The type to tap a stone bridge before crossing. Cautious, sensitive, strong perfectionist tendencies.]
And yet, he'd been betrayed?
Suspicious.
Put another way, it meant the betrayer was close enough that the marquis never suspected.
'Perfect.'
Tail flipped to the relationship chart.
'Three hints in total.'
First: Someone Cecilia knew, close enough the marquis wouldn't dream of betrayal.
Second: Skilled enough to join the secret mission on the battlefield with him.
Third: Someone who'd gone to the war with his son.
Combining them, one person stood out.
'Found you.'
The prime suspect for betraying Marquis Duvier.
"Not bad at all."
Khan nodded curtly at Tail's words.
"So, the price?"
Khan demanded confidently.
Tail clearly liked the info.
Reading his thoughts, Tail smirked.
"What do you want?"
Money?
Gems?
Rare items?
Tail waited patiently.
Khan's mouth opened heavily.
"...Sadly, I haven't thought about it."
"Knew it."
Typical of that laid-back guy's personality.
Tail pocketed the report and said,
"Then..."
He drew it out slowly.
"How about I bank one wish for you?"
A wish.
An abstract term, like some vague reward.
"A wish, huh..."
Khan murmured lowly.
"What, don't like it?"
"No."
Khan replied quickly.
"Truly unexpected. I like it."
Tail grimaced in disgust at Khan's words.
"What the hell is that perverted answer?"
"Shut up."
"Alright, I'm out. See you next month."
With that, Tail left the master's room.
A moment later.
As silence settled, the bolt slid open smoothly.
A small girl emerged from behind it.
Snow-white silver hair and straight-cut bangs.
Deep, dark black eyes.
The current Demon King, Enis.
She maintained the appearance of a teenager, but she'd lived over three thousand years.
Bored with her near-immortal life, she'd come to the human world at a closest subordinate's suggestion to amuse herself.
Playing as the info guild master, Khan.
At first, she considered wrecking it all, but now she was starting to enjoy it.
'Especially that guy.'
She looked forward to his monthly visits.
He sensed her aura yet acted unfazed.
Anyone else would have bowed low, but Tail was different from the start.
Bold, without hesitation.
That's probably why she'd summoned him by letter once, just to see him again.
Leaning on the sofa, she murmured softly.
"Fun."
The thrill she felt for the first time in millennia.
Guess this is why others indulged in such games.
And today was extra special.
He'd offered a wish as payment.
Blinking slowly, she whispered,
"A wish..."
A cute word she hadn't heard in ages.
Not a contract—a true wish.
"Heh."
Interest sparked in Enis's eyes.
Indeed, fun.
That guy was.
She wanted to lock him in a room, turn him into a doll, and observe him daily.
"Zephyron. Leon."
Her closest subordinates' names slipped from Enis's lips.
Two men materialized before her from nothing.
Handsome, exuding dangerous auras.
They prostrated themselves and spoke in unison.
"You called, Demon King?"
"You called, Demon King?"
Her eyes held no life as she gazed at them.
Just dark, cold emptiness.
"I have a task."
They bowed deeper at her words.
"Watch Marquis Duvier at the empire's forefront."
Enis continued in a frosty tone.
"If his life is threatened, a little help is fine."
Just a service.
For the one who'd built this guild and piqued her interest.
Zephyron and Leon replied briefly.
"Understood."
"It shall be done."
And with that, they vanished.
As if they'd never been there at all.