Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: The Devil's Sweet Whisper
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The dining hall was adorned with vibrant colors and lighting.
Sunlight filtering through the crystal windows softly filled the serene interior.
A bouquet of bright flowers decorated the center of the table, surrounded by exquisite dishes.
The butler approached the table and pointed to one particular dish.
"This is a dish made from the 'Black Fil' caught in Lake Diyart. I hope it suits Your Highness's taste."
It was a fish dish.
A luxurious one made from the finest ingredients at that.
The beautiful ambiance and lavish food naturally brought a smile to one's face.
But in the eyes of Irena, who gazed upon it, only melancholy was reflected.
"...Yes, thank you."
Irena, the princess of the Sail Kingdom, replied listlessly.
She knew those dishes would one day become poison binding her.
Even the butler recommending them was planted by the noble faction.
They wanted the royals to act even more extravagantly.
They kept nudging them in that direction.
Just looking at the dish before her now proved it.
Where on earth had they suddenly procured such premium ingredients?
If she partook, rumors would spread soon enough.
Princess Irena's extravagance has reached its peak.
As Irena hesitated for a moment, the butler crept closer with a sly smile.
"Oh dear... Shall I have it removed if it's not to your taste?"
Even refusing wouldn't stop the rumors.
They'd just twist it into claims of wastefulness.
Yet Irena rose from her seat.
"I'm not feeling well today. I'll be going now."
She didn't want to stay here any longer.
Everyone was an enemy except her father and her guard knight.
She hurried out of the dining hall toward her room.
"Are you alright, Your Highness?"
"Ah, Sir Lennon. I'm fine."
It was her guard knight, Lennon, who supported the staggering Irena.
Lennon escorted her to her room while supporting her.
They soon arrived at her door.
"If you need anything, just say the word."
Lennon bowed as he spoke.
"I'm fine, so don't worry about me. I want to be alone today."
At her words, Lennon respectfully withdrew.
Only after confirming he was gone did Irena enter her room.
The interior was silent.
She headed to the window where sunlight streamed in and drew the curtains, blocking out all light.
A room existing only for her.
Dark and quiet.
She glanced around cautiously before pulling something out from under the bed.
"Will this really work?"
The items from under the bed were all extraordinary.
Red candles, dead rat corpses, parchment covered in unknown script, a few gems and gold.
And finally, a book bound in black leather.
A black magic grimoire.
"Huh?"
An alarm rang from my smartphone.
I checked it immediately.
It was a special mission.
"Missions have been popping up a lot lately, huh?"
I clicked right away to check the details.
One desiring a pact with the devil?
The title's a bit too sensational, isn't it?
Fine, whatever.
"...Isn't the reward kinda stingy?"
The reward was just increased favorability.
I pondered for a moment.
This mission was different from the usual ones.
It wasn't about dungeons or monsters—it was helping someone like me.
The reward was meager, smaller than a rat's tail, but it piqued my interest.
"Sail Kingdom, huh..."
I'd heard there was a princess there, but I didn't know who.
No real need to, either.
"Still, better to help, right?"
The reward was cheap, but it was a princess of a nation.
Opportunities to get acquainted with royalty weren't common.
In fact, befriending the princess could bring me plenty of benefits.
My current dungeon was in the mountains near the Sail Kingdom.
Practically neighbors.
Her favorability would come in handy someday.
"So, who to send?"
Actually, not much to think about.
There was always one right answer.
"It's gotta be you, Celia."
I immediately dispatched Celia for the mission.
Click.
After pocketing my smartphone, the skeletons around began making noise.
I was still in the F-rank dungeon.
The skeletons here were expressing their submission to me.
Thanks to my trait, understanding them was no issue.
I had some questions anyway, so I accepted their request.
"Hmm... That's odd."
This F-rank dungeon was now under my control.
I could feel its energy flowing straight to me.
Feeling the dungeon's energy raised one question.
"Why can't I sense Azmo's dungeon?"
Azmo's dungeon was on Earth too.
But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't sense it at all.
It hadn't been conquered, either.
It was still in my dungeon list.
"Hmm."
What was blocking the dungeon's energy?
Maybe some interference preventing me from sensing it.
Such thoughts lingered briefly.
"Eh, it'll work out somehow."
I knew Azmo's dungeon was fine, so no issue.
I focused on my current concerns first.
Managing this skeleton dungeon and how to deal with Kang Jin-su.
The mission? Celia would handle it fine.
Blue flames swirled fiercely.
The blaze that had shot up to the ceiling subsided, and someone appeared before Irena.
"...Gasp!"
It was a woman of stunning beauty.
The large horns atop her silver hair made it clear she wasn't ordinary.
An immense presence emanated from her.
Even Irena, unable to sense mana, could tell she wasn't just any demon.
"A, a demon...!"
Exactly as written in the book.
To think she'd actually summoned a demon.
The woman smiled sweetly at Irena, who had collapsed to the floor.
"Oh my, what a cute young lady."
"......"
Irena was too shocked to speak.
But the demon tickled her ears with a gentle voice.
"My name is Celia. What business does a cute young lady like you have summoning me?"
It was the devil's sweet whisper.
The demon's appearance was something she'd half-expected.
But Irena wasn't foolish enough to squander this chance in shock.
The other party didn't seem like an ordinary demon—more like a tremendous being.
This could be an opportunity.
Irena introduced herself to the one who called herself Celia.
She shared various stories.
The current state of the Sail Kingdom, the power struggle between the royalist and noble factions.
And her own goals.
Even taboo topics from the royal family came up.
Like how her father, who led the Sail Kingdom, wasn't actually the legitimate heir.
"I see. So you've had much to worry about."
Fortunately, the demon listened attentively.
Her kindness even made Irena doubt if demons were truly the monsters humans made them out to be.
"The previous king had no heirs. They searched even among collaterals until my father became one. As you see, he ascended as king, but even then, he only took the royal surname—no proper name."
Nicely put, he was royal collateral, but really, commoner blood ran thick.
Kalendia Der Sail.
Thus, he took the royal Der Sail name, but had no middle name.
In short, no pedigree.
"Humans live such complicated lives."
Celia empathized with her words.
Irena knew the nobles looked down on him more because he was practically a commoner king.
And now, the limits were approaching.
The noble faction was like ticking time bombs, ready to explode anytime.
Especially since the White Church had started meddling in Sail Kingdom affairs.
Then, laughter reached Irena's ears.
- Ha ha ha.
Peeking out the window, nobles were laughing and shaking wine glasses in the garden.
Using the royal garden like their own home.
Truly detestable scum.
Confirming their sight, Irena steeled her resolve.
"Whatever price you demand, I don't care. Just give me power! That's my wish."
She was willing to sell her soul for power.
To solidify royal authority with that power.
That was Irena's goal.
"Such a bold princess."
Irena gazed indifferently out the window.
One figure caught her eye.
Count Derek, at the center of the gathering.
He was one of the noble faction leaders, the royalists' mortal enemy.
"If only that one disappeared..."
Irena murmured unconsciously while staring at Count Derek.
A tiny mutter, but Celia wasn't one to miss it.
"Consider this a gift before our formal contract."
With those words, Celia gestured lightly.
Suddenly, something odd happened to Count Derek enjoying the garden gathering.
"......!"
Irena's mouth fell open at the subtle change.
Count Derek, with a deranged expression, picked up a knife stuck in a cake.
Short screams erupted around him, but he ignored them.
Instead, he swung the knife wildly at those nearby.
Red blood sprayed into the air.
Blood rained down on the green grass.
The gathering that had boasted of their victory moments ago turned into pandemonium in an instant.
And Irena, watching from her room...
"Ha ha..."
Was swept in an inexplicable ecstasy.
It felt refreshingly exhilarating.