Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: The Witch's Plea
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"No, no! You must listen to me! I am telling you, I truly do require your assistance!"
Indeed, she certainly looked the part of someone in need. Although, it seemed more like a case for a high-end psychiatric ward than anything else.
"The deep-seated wounds of the heart do not simply heal by attempting to tough them out through sheer will. You should seek proper professional counseling. If you are unsure where to begin such a journey, I can personally introduce you to a renowned specialist."
I had offered that suggestion with a heart full of genuine sincerity, but the self-proclaimed Asero Kerk did not offer a word of thanks—instead, she jumped to her feet in a sudden, blinding fury.
"I am telling you once and for all, I am not insane! And you should go see a specialist yourself!"
Why on earth would the recommendation be turned back on me?
"Then what exactly is it that you want me to do for you?"
"I want you to help me!"
"Help you with what specifically?"
"...I do not actually know."
From the very first moment she had barged into my home uninvited, I had sensed it, but now it seemed undeniable that I had become properly entangled with a genuine lunatic.
Resigned to the grim fact that any hope of sleep was now off the table, I let out a heavy sigh of pure frustration. That was when the self-proclaimed Asero Kerk continued her rambling, her face contorting as if she were on the very verge of bursting into tears.
"I desperately need help. I simply cannot accomplish it all alone. Yes. I already failed once on my own. I need to gather strong comrades... Wait a moment. Didn't I fail even after I had gathered them...?"
This situation is becoming dire. She is honestly starting to scare me now.
Figuring this circular conversation would go on forever if I allowed it, I reluctantly decided to offer her a small token of assistance.
"You stated that you came back to me because our goals were perfectly aligned."
"Yes, that is correct."
"What goals are those, exactly, that supposedly align?"
"Well, it involves chasing those bastards... Ah! That's it! Them! Oracle! We must find a way to stop Oracle somehow!"
"Tell me exactly how to proceed, and I shall stop them somehow."
What exactly was I supposed to be stopping here, anyway?
Was I meant to stop them from finding that mysterious key or whatever it was?
Wait just a minute.
Did this woman actually possess knowledge regarding the true nature of the key?
"Do you happen to know exactly what this key is that Oracle is so desperately searching for?"
"...I have no idea. I knew the truth once, but I have forgotten it all. I have never even laid eyes upon it myself."
Of course you haven't.
"Do you at least remember the reason why we are compelled to stop them?"
"I do remember that! If we do not stop Oracle, the entire world will be destroyed once again!"
"...Once again?"
What was that? Had the entire world been destroyed previously without my knowledge?
"What exactly do you mean by the word 'again'?"
"Um, I have no clue. I simply cannot remember the details..."
She was utterly and completely useless to me, in all seriousness.
She kept talking as if she vaguely possessed some forbidden knowledge, so I had tested her to see how much she actually remembered, but the effort was entirely pointless.
"Anyway, I have got it. I shall handle the Oracle matter."
"Are you for real?!"
Strictly speaking, it wouldn't actually be me stopping them but rather my highly capable subordinates. But explaining that nuance would only drag things out again, so I decided to gloss over the truth.
"So please, just go home and rest your mind easy."
"Uh, no. I feel deep down as if I still have something important left to do..."
"And do you happen to remember what that task is?"
"No, I do not."
Just go home already, I beg of you. Please just go home.
Perhaps my silent wish finally reached her. The self-proclaimed Asero Kerk offered a nod and stood up from her seat.
"Okay. I shall place my trust in you for the time being. In the meantime, I will try my hardest to remember what it is I need to do. Let us meet again later."
"You really do not have to come ba—"
Before I could even finish my sentence, the self-proclaimed Asero Kerk vanished into thin air.
Finally left alone, I headed toward my bedroom, thinking that I would ask Angela later if she could install some kind of anti-crazy-bitch magical barrier at my home.
Among the countless and dangerous organizations lurking within the dark underworld of the Empire,
the Gerat Family stood unchallenged at the very absolute top.
Even the hardened denizens of the shadows trembled at the mere mention of their brutality—the Gerat Family members were infamous for showing absolutely no mercy whatsoever.
Especially their formidable boss, Dionysus Gerat. He was the kind of terrifying man who could make a crying child stop dead in its tracks, turning a common clichéd expression into a harsh, daily reality.
A pitch-black room sat thick with the pungent smoke of heavy, expensive cigars.
Several massive and heavy sacks of gold coins were piled high before Dionysus, who was lounging casually on the sofa.
"Boss. Here is this month's 'tax' collection."
"Very good."
Nodding in visible satisfaction at the ample haul, Dionysus rose to his feet and straightened his pristine clothes.
Word suddenly arrived that someone of great importance had shown up. Dionysus immediately headed for the door.
His men parted to either side with mechanical precision, dropping to their knees and pressing their foreheads firmly to the ground.
Dionysus did exactly the same.
Moments later, the heavy door swung open.
In response to the king of the Empire's underworld showing such total obeisance, the Empire's Intelligence Minister returned the gesture with the utmost sincerity.
By grinding his heavy heel directly into Dionysus's head.
Whoa, that sudden impact truly startled me.
Something felt strangely squished under my foot—what on earth was it?
Honestly, this little mishap was not my fault in the slightest.
It was already incredibly dim in here, and with that man wearing a black suit, how was anyone supposed to see him on the floor?
More importantly, I had always wondered about this: black suits were one thing, but why the black ties as well?
Was it a formal funeral every single day for these people?
I was half-tempted to ask the question seriously when something finally stirred within the darkness.
"Hah, we are always making you travel all this way to see us. My deepest apologies, Grand Duke Barrmut."
"Just call me Minister, like you always do."
That title is quite a mouthful to say.
"Yes, sir. My apologies... Th-this way, then, if you please..."
I made my way into the murky, smoke-filled room and barely managed to locate the sofa and take a seat.
Perhaps he noticed my visible discomfort—Dionysus signaled his men to light several more candles around us.
That is much better.
Comforted by the sudden light, I turned my curious gaze to the table sitting before me.
Mounds of shimmering gold coins filled the sacks, piled high like mini mountains.
"Is this the monthly donation I was expecting?"
"Y-yes, sir. H-how does it look to you...?"
How do you think it looks? It looks perfect, obviously.
Dionysus Gerat was a remarkably diligent businessman, quite uncharacteristic for a figure in the underworld.
Sure, working in a place like this meant he would have to get his hands dirty on occasion, but he was still clearly trying to help the Empire through these substantial donations.
The Intelligence Department's funds were not exactly lacking, but having more available gold was always a welcome sight. I accepted them gratefully each and every month.
It looks like business was truly booming—even more so than last month.
"Things are going quite well for you, I see."
"Yes, and it is all thanks to you, sir..."
"Thanks to me? How so?"
What exactly had I even done to help his business?
"N-no! I did not mean it in that way! I-I mean, we feel immense gratitude for you always watching over us so warmly!"
Ah, I see, I get it now. There was no point in denying his words if that was how he truly saw the situation, so I let it slide.
Speaking of his business ventures...
"I have heard that you have been meeting quite often with Maximilian Zamell, the head of the Sinister Merchant Union branch. Are you perhaps planning a new venture together?"
Choosing the Merchant Union branch head as a business partner was an incredibly smart move.
Expert financial advice was always worth its weight in gold.
"H-how did you... Ahem. W-we are merely personal friends. A few private dinners, that is all there is to it."
"Inviting him to the Gerat Family's private estate for meals sounds like a remarkably close friendship to me."
Extremely close, in point of fact.
"Uh..."
"This new business is in the field of finance, correct?"
"Yes, sir..."
"I am no merchant myself, but I think it is a good idea. As long as you ensure you follow the imperial laws, it will certainly benefit us both."
"R-right... The la-laws... We must follow them to the letter, absolutely..."
Excellent. He shows an impeccable and deep respect for the law.
How did a man like this end up doing business in the dark underworld?
Perhaps he found a blue ocean niche that was previously untapped?
I was a bit curious about the mystery, but that was quite enough business talk for one day.
It was time for some casual small talk.
"Your daughter has certainly grown into quite the beauty lately."
"...I beg your pardon?"
They say that no parent dislikes hearing praise for their own children.
Perhaps he never once imagined I would compliment his daughter—Dionysus's eyes nearly bugged out of his head.
Oh, come on. I possessed some degree of basic social skills.
She wasn't exactly drop-dead gorgeous, but for these massive monthly donations, a little bit of sweet talk was a small price to pay.
"Are you perhaps planning to raise her to be a professional musician?"
"I beg your pardon again?"
"She has been learning the violin lately, hasn't she?"
Musical training costs an absolute fortune. But with a successful businessman for a father, she was certainly set for life.
"N-not particularly..."
"Her lesson should be ending just about now... Oh? You usually pick her up yourself, but perhaps your wife went today because of my visit? I am sorry about that inconvenience."
Dionysus's head began to shake from side to side so fast that I actually worried for the safety of his neck.
"N-no need to apologize at all! It is perfectly fine! Really!"
"That is good to hear. But... I truly get it. I do not have children of my own, but I understand a parent's deep worry for their daughter."
I knew one overprotective father quite well: His Majesty the Emperor.
"You should keep a very close eye on her. You never truly know how long you will have that precious chance."
Kids have a way of growing up so incredibly fast. David did, and Ellis has as well.
Watching them shoot up so suddenly brings all sorts of complicated thoughts to one's mind.
"I-I shall... keep that... in mind..."
Perhaps he was currently picturing his own daughter growing up and leaving him.
Biting back tears of pure emotion, Dionysus clenched his teeth together. To spare him any further embarrassment, I told his men to collect the donations and excused myself.
"I shall see you again next month."
"...Y-yes, sir..."
That was quite interesting.
They always say that business demands a certain ruthlessness, but how had such a soft-hearted guy built an empire like this one?
I left the underworld behind, pondering the mystery of the man.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it all...!"
Dionysus tore at his own hair with both hands.
He grabbed pieces of furniture—anything within reach—and hurled them across the room in a frenzy.
He seized a nearby, terrified underling by the collar and began to pummel him with his fists.
Was he simply venting his pent-up rage?
No, he wasn't.
He was gripped by a paralyzing, absolute terror.
These violent actions were mere desperate flailing to deny the fear and attempt to escape its grasp.
He knew better than anyone else that these outbursts were entirely meaningless.
Clearing all of his men out of the room, Dionysus slumped alone onto the sofa. With trembling hands, he struggled to light a cigar.
He had allowed himself to get a little bit too greedy.
Just a little bit.
'But even so, this consequence is far too much to bear...!'
Loan sharking was a trade that any underworld dweller dabbled in at some point.
He had just aimed for a bit bigger of a target this time.
But now, his innocent daughter was in immediate and grave danger.
Even the most irredeemable villains still cherish their own children above all else.
Dionysus scrapped his entire new business plan without a second thought.
He would do anything to protect his daughter from the reach of the monsters.
"Ow, that hurts."
Startled by a sudden sharp pain while washing the dishes, Celine lifted her right palm to inspect it.
Fresh blood was oozing from a thin cut on her skin.
'I must have missed a small shard from that broken plate earlier.'
Sighing at her own uncharacteristic slip, she rinsed the wound under the water, fetched the first-aid kit, applied some ointment, and wrapped it in a clean bandage.
'But I simply cannot go to work appearing like this.'
Unwilling to let the Minister see her sloppy and poorly bandaged hand, Celine slipped on a pair of black gloves and grabbed the two lunchboxes before heading to the department.
The Minister was already there when she arrived. She secretly hoped that he might notice the gloves—unusual as they were—but no reaction came from him.
'Sigh. Hoping that he would notice a minor injury? That is pathetic, even for someone like me.'
Setting that disappointment aside, the throbbing in her palm was becoming quite annoying.
It stung sharply every single time she gripped her pen, slowing her work progress considerably.
'What an incredibly unlucky day this has turned out to be.'
As she continued to mope about her luck, the time for lunch finally arrived.
About to hand over the usual homemade lunchbox as she did every day, Celine froze in total shock the very next instant.
The Minister had picked up his chair and brought it to sit right beside her.
"M-Minister? Why are you...?"
"You simply cannot eat properly with your hand in that condition."
"I beg your pardon?"
Realizing exactly what was about to happen moments later, she let out a silent, inner cheer and thanked her lucky stars just for being alive.