Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: 11. Superior-Subordinate Affection (10)
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"How are you feeling today?"
"I'm surprisingly refreshed."
Karin answered the shopkeeper's question that she was doing fine. In truth, her physical condition felt refreshingly good—almost suspiciously so.
The appearance of Svetlana in her dream last night had been unexpected, but it truly seemed like there was nothing she could do about it.
Including even those details in her report, the shopkeeper crossed his arms and spoke in a somewhat stern tone.
"As long as you don't get swayed by strange words, you should be fine."
"Yes. If anything troubling comes up, I'll make sure to ask you before acting."
"That's a good choice."
With that, Karin smiled as she watched the shopkeeper bustle about, setting up a gathering to share and celebrate the outcome of what had been quite the ordeal for him.
Being able to wield a portion of Svetlana's authority had led to something amusing: her body now automatically maintained its "most beautiful state." She could feel subtle changes in the positioning and size of her features, as well as slight shifts in her proportions.
Now that things had come to this, parts of her were starting to think "maybe," and just as Svetlana had said, if there was something the shopkeeper couldn't overcome on his own, she found herself wanting to help him with it.
She had confidence now. At least in her appearance.
Having lifted a major worry from her shoulders and gained new power, this had been a huge boost to Karin's self-esteem and confidence.
"Shopkeeper. If there's anything I can help with, just let me know."
"Sure. You seem like half your problems are solved now, so speak up when you have some free time."
"Yes!"
The shopkeeper didn't seem opposed to the idea either, responding a bit more generously than he had during the height of the ordeal.
Yeah.
Doesn't it feel like my era has finally arrived?
Anyway, brimming with newfound confidence, Karin helped move the cafe tables and chairs, then quietly took her seat at the head table—the place of honor.
Once the regular customers had mostly gathered and settled in, the shopkeeper opened his mouth with a relaxed expression she hadn't seen on him in ages—at least not recently.
"For now, the initial labyrinth exploration is complete. The incident from last time... the demon interference issue has been resolved, and with help from the Adventurer's Guild and His Imperial Majesty, we're unraveling the labyrinth's secrets. Karin's condition has returned to normal as well."
"Sounds great just from the report."
"It really is. We'll slowly uncover the labyrinth's secrets along with Karin's bracelet, but we won't have to deal with any malicious demon attacks for a while."
Finishing his words, the shopkeeper took a sip of water.
He clapped his hands and pointed to the food.
"So, with one tiring and difficult matter finally behind us, I set this up so we could all celebrate and share the good news. Relax and enjoy."
"It's been ages since we had proper meals in bulk like this."
"Come on, Dras. Why would I make all this without a group order?"
"Not bad for something you haven't done in a while."
"Form is temporary, but class is eternal."
With that, the shopkeeper sat down next to Karin, the guest of honor. She snuck a glance at him, feeling unnecessarily self-conscious, but he seemed aware of it yet unbothered as he tore into a chicken leg.
To think this guy has some kind of trauma. Hard to believe.
He's got the strongest mentality of anyone I know.
"What're you doing? Relax."
"Yep."
She didn't want to get scolded big time for getting caught dwelling on what Svetlana had told her, so Karin focused on eating.
Maybe it was because she'd been in a state of hyper-tension for so long, but loosening her belt and digging in felt novel—and the food went down amazingly well.
The shopkeeper smirked watching her eat and transferred food to her side plate, which was appreciated but also felt oddly like being treated like a kid or a pet, leaving her a bit troubled.
How can I appeal more femininely?
"...Ermina. Have you been learning etiquette?"
"Ah, yes. Still practicing..."
"You're doing well. And in such a short time, too."
"Ehehe..."
Sigh. Is that it?
Karin made a mental note as she watched Ermina blush openly and giggle with her hand over her mouth.
Time for me to properly learn noble etiquette too.
"Finding a teacher isn't easy, though. How'd you manage to get one and even practice?"
"R-Rias found one for me."
"Huh?"
"Ever since Yulius scolded her, she's been trying to change her behavior."
"Haa. Not sure if I should approve of this."
"But she really is working hard."
"...Yeah. I'll keep that in mind. And it does suit her better—her posture and demeanor have real grace now."
Seeing Ermina blush again, cover her mouth, and beam with delight made Karin a little pouty. I want some praise too.
Of course, the shopkeeper wasn't stingy or critical with praise. He acknowledged good work when he saw it, so if she put in the effort, she'd hear it eventually.
"Karin."
"Leimi sis."
"This girl's got a lecherous glint when she looks at the shopkeeper."
"...I'm upfront about it."
"Good for you. Like who you like."
Leimi downed an entire glass of fruit juice in one go. Then she placed her hands on Karin's cheeks and kneaded them roughly.
"Your skin's improved too. Guess overcoming trials comes with rewards, huh?"
After laughing heartily for a bit, she took a sip of coffee and continued.
"Did my magic tools help?"
"Yes. A ton."
"Then we're good. Whew. My body was exhausted, but I learned a lot too. How often do you get to disassemble Lebedev gear?"
Karin bowed her head to Leimi, who was subtly telling her not to worry about repaying the favor.
Mina was glued to the shopkeeper and wouldn't let go, while everyone else helped themselves to their favorite foods.
Karin decided to focus on eating rather than mingling more.
The shopkeeper's cooking was delicious, after all.
**
"Communication's cut off."
Commonly known by the moniker "The Exterminator," Octris placed the communication magic tool nearby, yanked over the chair Svetlana used, propped her legs up, and sat down.
Did she croak? Nah, no way she'd die that easily.
Sealed? Unless a goddess dumped a ton of power into it, she's adept at space magic—she'd break out.
This is weird. Super weird.
Her trail vanished in the Empire's Astraea, so something's definitely up there.
Obviously, even the Demon God Cult had no intention of poking around where Svetlana—their top survivor—had gone radio silent.
Octris was the Exterminator. Or Slaughterer, in other tongues.
Her strength lay in mercilessly wiping out the weak; she shied away from facing powerhouses head-on.
"Sheesh. Without Svetlana, I've gotta play mediator."
Karsys was dead, Danil was dead, Svetlana was MIA.
25% of the Demon God Cult's 12 executives were gone. At this point, the orthodox move amid the current global situation was to admit there was an existence they couldn't handle, hunker down using their lifespans longer than humans' or even elves', wait for enemies to die off naturally, then rise again.
"But we've laid too many groundwork pieces."
The Demon God Cult's executives rose and fell with the tides of time. Weakening from age. Incompetent successors. Defections from infighting over long lives, and so on.
The current lineup was a golden generation with solid base combat power and excellent authorities received—aside from their utter lack of unity, like a dysfunctional family.
Naturally, they'd kicked off operations everywhere assuming victory this time.
Ending now would mean losses beyond measure.
"No choice but to push forward... Imir Kingdom's Academy was Danil's flop. Elf territory was Karsys's flop. Empire's Astraea is Svetlana's flop. So."
Of the remaining targets, the mountains where dwarves lived and the Holy Kingdom seemed most viable.
There was an executive perfect for tackling the Holy Kingdom, but contact was lost. So next up: dwarves.
If they defiled and desecrated the earth those born-of-earth, return-to-earth folk cherished, the new generation of dwarves would become no different from demons.
And if they seized their craftsmanship and dwarf-exclusive magic, they could even take on humans, whose numbers overwhelmed them.
So who to send?
"Only me, huh."
She'd only come here briefly from other duties, but Svetlana's sudden vanishing had pinned her down. No telling when the others might show—if they even did—and waiting wasn't an option anyway.
Realizing she was the only demon available, Octris sighed dejectedly and flopped face-first onto the conference table.
A conference table no one remembered using with three or more people in ages.
"Aigo. I haven't been slacking till now, but things are gonna get really busy ahead."
She was always a diligent, hardworking lady, but that didn't make her a masochist who loved busyness and work.
Watching comrades who'd been diligently handling their posts drop without finishing their jobs brought more anxiety over incompletion than sorrow.
No helping it.
Proceed covertly, hide until the very moment it blows up—hide and hide and hide—then wrap it up successfully and return.
If there was a party strong enough to kill Karsys and Danil, versatile enough to take down Svetlana, staying hidden was the best they could hope for.