Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: The Last Party Member - 2
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Serein was downing drinks at a tavern.
Gulp, gulp.
“Ugh. Now that’s the stuff. I really held back there.”
She tore into a chicken leg and shouted.
“One more bottle of booze here!”
“Make it two.”
“Oh, Offense. Alright, two bottles it is.”
“......”
“What the hell!”
Serein shot up from her seat.
She noticed the lineup of empty bottles and snacks cluttering her table.
“Uh, um. I didn’t drink all that.”
“Whatever. Why live so exhausted?”
Thud.
The server soon set down the bottles and left.
Offense fiddled oddly with the corner of the table.
He took a swig straight from the bottle and said.
“Living like that won’t make you live long. All that stress.”
“......”
“I saw through your act ages ago anyway. Let’s just have a drink and relax.”
“Hmph.”
She sat back down and crossed her legs.
“You met Risel, huh?”
“How’d you know?”
“He tried sweet-talking me into joining up. Didn’t work, so I figured you’d send someone else. Didn’t expect it to be you, Offense.”
“......”
“Go back. I’m not joining Maide’s party.”
She waved him off dismissively.
Maide narrowed his eyes and asked.
“Why not?”
“Why should I?”
“Kaild’s clearly losing to Maide.”
“Yeah, true. But Maide seems too nice.”
“......?”
“Good people can’t grant my wish.”
Offense burst out laughing, practically showing his uvula.
“Uhahaha!”
“Wow. First time I’ve seen you laugh that hard.”
“Had to. Maide being nice? Yeah, you nailed that part.”
“......”
“But being good and being naive are totally different. He’s a good guy, but his cunning? Out of this world.”
Serein had to admit he was right.
After all, wasn’t it Maide’s scheming that toppled Kaild’s party when they were thriving in Tetra territory?
Still, she shook her head.
“Why does Maide want to be a hero?”
“What kinda question is that? To beat the Demon King, obviously...”
“That’s why it won’t work.”
“Huh?”
“Kaild’s thinking beyond beating the Demon King. Killing the Demon King’s just a stepping stone to him.”
Offense didn’t catch on right away.
Serein kept explaining.
“That guy’s rotten to the core. Once he takes down the Demon King, he’ll ride that fame and popularity to rule the continent and the Empire, mark my words.”
“Hmm. Never thought of it that way, but yeah, it tracks.”
“Yeah. Won’t go as planned, though. The Emperor on down, no lord’s gonna let Kaild run wild.”
“......”
“But without that kinda ambition, no one’s granting my wish. What’s Maide’s plan after killing the Demon King?”
Offense thought it over quietly.
Memories surfaced of things Maide had said while traveling together.
Something about a comfy retirement life after slaying the Demon King.
Maide had gotten uncharacteristically excited, spittle flying as he ranted about his retirement blueprint.
It sounded detailed and solid enough that Offense had thought, hey, retiring like that wouldn’t be bad...
‘But it won’t appeal to Serein.’
Offense scratched his head and said.
“So, you’re not coming?”
“Yeah. Kaild’s probably out too, honestly. Was gonna drown my sorrows and think it over.”
“......”
“Drink up, Offense. For old times’ sake, it’s on me.”
Instead of answering, Offense picked up the candlestick from the table.
He raised it above his head.
“......? What’re you doing?”
“Hold on. Angle’s off.”
“This old man’s drunk.”
“No idea why everyone calls me old man. I’m just a year younger than Maide.”
“How old’s Maide?”
“Twenty-eight now, I think. And from that question, you didn’t even know my age? I must’ve told you.”
“Never cared enough to remember. Forgetting by tomorrow.”
“Fine. There.”
As the light receded, Serein’s shadow stretched long.
It pooled right at her feet.
Serein raised her glass and said.
“Anyway, Maide looks younger than he is. Pretty baby-faced... Eek?”
Serein sank straight into the shadow.
Offense fiddled with the table corner.
When the server had set down the bottles and left, he’d cast a curse to erase their perception of the surroundings.
Finally, he tapped twice to dispel the curse and slipped into the shadow himself.
“Talk to him once. You’ll end up acknowledging Maide too.”
Just like I did.
Offense returned half a day later with Serein in tow.
Now she stood before me, head bowed, muttering curses.
“Offense, you bastard. Eating his own shit. That shit turning back into shit when it comes out.”
“Calm down.”
“Let her curse a bit more. My head’s pounding? He kept knocking me out every time he shoved me in and out of that shadow.”
“He can only shadow-jump to places in his line of sight. Guess you thrashed around coming out.”
“Anyone’d struggle if kidnapped.”
For the record, she wasn’t tied up or anything.
Neril offered to cast a binding spell, but I stopped her.
Not only that—I’d cleared out the rest of the group.
This was Father’s room.
Looking around the worn space, now devoid even of his traces, stirred strange feelings.
“Hey. You kidnap me and just stand there gawking?”
“Figured it’d take time for you to cool off, so I was sightseeing.”
“What sights in this dump?”
“This was my father’s room.”
Serein’s face changed at that.
Trail said.
[Kyaa. You’re something else. You picked this room on purpose and dropped that line deliberately.]
‘Yeah. Eye of Omniscience showed Serein’s got history with her parents. Best to start with common ground for the convo.’
I couldn’t see what happened with Serein’s parents via Eye of Omniscience.
Hadn’t heard their names before regression.
Given the Emperor stripped her title, she was nobility, but the Empire had plenty.
Instead, I’d just checked her Blood Letters secret.
Surprisingly, her sins weren’t that heinous.
Stealing stuff, scamming for cash.
She’d embezzled a hefty sum in secret—rivaling my own haul as a top merc.
‘Surprising, but...’
Felt right for Serein.
She said.
“Your father’s room? This your house?”
“Yeah. This territory’s my hometown.”
“Poor folk.”
“We’re rich now. Like you.”
Serein froze.
She forced a smile-like thing and opened her mouth.
“Nah. Me, scraping by on the temple’s meager donations?”
“The high priest at your temple seemed pretty corrupt.”
“......!”
“Evan Norin. Sold watered-down potions to the locals, claiming the Heavenly God sent them down personally?”
“Y-You...”
“And that money vanished like magic. You reported a thief. Of course, that thief was you.”
“What are you! How do you know that? Why’s everyone digging into people’s pasts?”
Serein shot up from her seat.
I leaned back casually and said.
“From that, sounds like Kaild knew your past too?”
“......His version was stuff anyone could dig up. Pretty famous incident to some.”
“......”
“But what you said? No one ever found out.”
I chuckled and changed the subject.
“Anyway, you’re a real piece of work. Why not return it to the victims instead of pocketing it all?”
“Hmph. Knew you’d say that. Always gotta mouth off.”
“......”
“Dumbasses fell for the ‘Heavenly God sent it’ line hook, line, and sinker. Better off brewing herbs from the local apothecary with that cash.”
“Hmm.”
“They handed over the money willingly, happily. Can’t claim ownership after that...”
She hesitated, then added.
“Yeah.”
“Too late. Just speak freely.”
“No thanks. Wanna stay as uncomfortable with you as possible.”
“Why? We’re gonna be party members now.”
“What bullshit. I said no!”
“What’s your wish?”
Naturally, Serein’s lips stayed sealed.
Should I pry a bit more?
“You first reached out to the Emperor for your wish. He probably tasked you with assassinating Kaild.”
“......!”
“But Kaild seemed better suited, so you switched sides?”
“......”
“Switched once—why not twice? Join me this time.”
Serein took a light breath and asked.
“In case you know this too, I want to abolish the priestly orders across the continent.”
“Big ambition.”
“Can you grant that?”
“Nope. Not at all.”
Her face went blank at my instant reply.
I dug in my ear and said.
“Too much hassle.”
“Ugh. Expected it, but at least pretend to think it over.”
“No plans to grant it, but join me anyway.”
“Kaild promised my wish. You refuse. And you want me in the party?”
I smirked and replied.
“Kaild won’t grant it either.”
Serein’s face shifted.
I pressed on.
“Killing the Demon King isn’t his endgame. He wants to lord over the continent as a hero after. Basically a Demon King himself.”
“You knew.”
“Sounds like you suspected too. Smart enough to guess that far—why trust his promise?”
I asked slyly.
“Only halfway decent option?”
“Yeah. A guy with that ambition’s closest to granting mine. What’re you doing after the Demon King?”
“Retiring.”
“Ha. Knew it.”
I shook my head.
“I’ll overlook you dissing my retirement plan.”
“Haah.”
“Anyway, no abolishing priestly orders for me. But how about different help?”
“......?”
“Abolishing them’s just your means. There’s a real goal after, right?”
Serein’s lips quivered faintly.
I recalled her subtle expression from last Eye of Omniscience peek.
Her personality pre-regression.
Why was she prickly with Kaild? What irked her?
Considering her likes, her triggers—one hypothesis formed.
I whispered softly in her ear.
Her mouth dropped open.
I pulled back and asked.
“How’s that? Tempting?”
“......”
“Choose now.”
Serein bowed her head deeply.
Long moments later, she spoke.
“Quick side question, Maide.”
“Yeah.”
“You said this is your hometown? Family still around?”
Mother flashed in my mind.
Yeah. She’s probably still in this territory.
In prison.
“Probably.”
“Weird answer.”
“Complicated family history. Anyway, why?”
“Kaild’s trying to unseal the Jewel of Destruction, right? Feels like that guy’d hold your entire hometown hostage for leverage.”
She’d pieced it together without the full story.
Impressed inwardly, I nodded.
Serein said.
“I’ll help. Can’t forgive using family and hometown as hostages.”
“Hm? Ah! You’re already leaning my way but too embarrassed to admit, so grabbing an excuse.”
“Can’t just say it outright!”
“......”
“N-No, I mean it purely from the heart.”
“Anyway, thanks. Was gonna ask you myself.”
I grinned and stood.
“Let’s go meet the new party member.”