Chapter 90: The Empress Dowager’s Trap
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 90: The Empress Dowager’s Trap
“Kyaaa!”
Sophia screamed as the boat lurched violently. The others turned pale with fright.
“What in the world? Why are these things…?”
The boatman muttered in confusion as he struggled with the oars.
It seemed a school of fish was attacking the boat. Even at a glance, the situation was bizarre.
Is it that demon bastard?
[Ugh, it certainly looks like it!]
Desmond shouted. Since there wasn't enough room on the boat for his direwolf form, he had inhabited his doll for the first time in a while. I clicked my tongue.
Was he trying to get rid of me before Dantalion and Veronica’s wedding?
The Empress Dowager’s ready consent to the marriage must have been a setup for this trap. She knew it would be difficult to harm me as long as I remained tucked away in the Winston townhouse.
Sighing, I looked around from atop the boat, which felt like it might capsize at any moment due to the swarming fish. For some reason, the boat carrying the Duke and Veronica was quite far away.
The boating trip itself had been a perfect trap. No matter how thoroughly the Duke had inspected everything, there was nothing he could do about a demon lurking beneath the surface of the lake.
Let’s jump in and catch it ourselves.
[Um, Master, you’re still a child…]
It’s fine. Marianne is here too.
[Oh.]
I glanced at Marianne, who happened to be on the same boat. Desmond’s reaction shifted instantly.
[Wait, wouldn't we die too?]
[He’s right. You’ve grown a bit, Master, so it might not kill you in one hit, but divine power is still lethal to us.]
Oh, right.
I belatedly remembered that the "cuties" I had contracted with were also demons.
I’d forgotten because they’d been stuck in those pathetic dolls for so long.
I glanced at Demia, who was holding onto me tightly even as the boat rocked.
If she’s a knight of the Imperial Guard, she must be quite skilled, right?
[Better than 'quite.']
Good. Let’s go!
I clenched my fists.
Turning to Demia, I spoke.
“Knight Demia, I’m sorry.”
“Pardon?”
I gave the puzzled Demia a wide grin and twisted my body. Empowered by the strength of my demons, I was able to wrench myself free from even a trained knight’s grip.
Then, my body plunged straight into the lake. Splash!
“Little Lady!”
“My Lady!”
The voices of Demia and Sophia reached me faintly. I snapped my eyes open underwater.
I can breathe with Physical Enhancement, right?
[Not for long.]
It’ll be enough.
In moments like this, Physical Enhancement was a truly useful ability. As I sank toward the bottom of the lake, I calmly surveyed my surroundings.
Huh?
Just then, a faint light began to leak from my pocket. I reached in and pulled out a magic stone.
The magic stone Melissa gave me?
The sky-blue stone emitted a brilliant glow. In an instant, a transparent film enveloped my body.
“What is this…?”
A barrier just large enough to protect me had formed. Inside it, I could speak and breathe freely.
“How curious,” I muttered, looking down at the flickering magic stone. It seemed Melissa had inscribed protection magic into it.
Holding the stone, I was able to observe the lake even more calmly. Soon, the school of fish that had been attacking the boat swarmed toward me.
[Blegh, what hideous-looking things.]
[Ugh, I don't even want to look at them.]
The fish were so mutated that even the demons were repulsed. I grimaced as the grotesque creatures pressed against the barrier.
Splash!
Right then, Demia dived into the water. She had likely jumped in to rescue me, but she looked startled when she saw the demonized fish clinging to the barrier.
Flash!
However, she quickly regained her composure and began to eliminate them. They say a skilled knight can manifest sword aura even underwater; blue streaks of light erupted from Demia’s hands, tearing through the fish.
Agh!
The downside was that the sword aura also shattered the barrier protecting me.
Because there were so many fish clustered around, Demia didn't seem to have spotted me yet.
[There are too many of them.]
[I’ll send you back up! Your body won't be able to hold out like this, Master!]
Ugh.
There were far more demonized fish than I had anticipated. To make matters worse, a giant, catfish-like creature was approaching from the distance. It looked incredibly ominous.
Right, let’s go up…
I nodded in agreement with the demons, but a sudden wave of dizziness washed over me. It seemed I had pushed my young body too far.
[Master, stay conscious!]
[Master, just hold on a little longer!]
Desmond and Bibi’s voices echoed in my head. But now, I was even struggling to breathe.
Ugh…
I squeezed my eyes shut, unable to watch as a fish opened its maw wide to swallow me whole.
Flash!
…!
Suddenly, a warm energy enveloped me. A brilliant light, vivid even underwater, turned the fish to ash.
Divine power?
Is it Marianne?
I turned my head and found a pale arm wrapped around me. Nathaniel had arrived and was using his divine power to clear away the fish.
Abel was right beside him. Realizing I couldn't breathe, Abel quickly pulled me toward the surface.
“Gasp!”
Abel and Nathaniel brought me back onto the boat. A deathly pale Veronica pulled me into her arms.
“Dia!”
“Mom…my.”
“Dia, oh my goodness.”
My chest felt tight, likely from swallowing some water. I panted heavily, looking up at Veronica.
Behind her, Duke Winston stood with his sword drawn. With a grim expression, the Duke plunged his blade into the lake.
Realizing what the Sword Master was about to do, I hurriedly sat up.
“Grandpa, Knight Demia is still in there!”
“I am aware.”
The Duke replied bluntly, glancing toward the side. Fortunately, Demia had already climbed onto another boat.
Rumble!
I wasn't sure exactly what he did, but the moment the Duke thrust his sword into the water, the boat shook violently. The entire lake vibrated as if an earthquake had struck.
Then, everything went still. It was quiet, as if all the demons attacking the boat had vanished.
So this is a Sword Master.
I marveled at the sight, looking up at Duke Winston. If I had just stayed on the boat with him, I wouldn't have needed to jump into the lake at all.
[Tsk, you should have been better at Rock-Paper-Scissors.]
[I suppose no one can be perfect.]
The demons clicked their tongues. I gave a small, silent nod of agreement.
“Turn the boat around immediately! We must get her to a doctor!”
“Dia is okay…”
“Hurry!”
I felt a bit embarrassed since I was perfectly fine aside from swallowing a little water.
However, at Duke Winston’s urging, the boatman rowed with a frantic, pale face.
Come to think of it, Nathaniel’s divine power seems to be fine.
Was it because he was contracted with Ilnes? Unlike Marianne’s, Nathaniel’s divine power didn't seem to harm my demons.
I looked up at Nathaniel, who was clutching my hand tightly.
“Dia, are you okay? Can you breathe?”
“Yeah, I’m okay. I’m fine.”
Drenched and shivering, Nathaniel watched me with an anxious gaze. He seemed terrified that something might have happened to me.
I patted his hand to reassure him. I hadn't expected them to reach me since their boat was so far away, but seeing that they had jumped into the lake to save me was quite touching.
Once we returned to land, I was treated by the Imperial physician under the persistent demands of the Duke and Veronica.
And so, my first boating trip came to an end.
*
“Cough…!”
Crimson blood spilled from the Empress Dowager’s lips.
Alone in the dark room, she raised a hand to wipe her mouth. The sound of her grinding her teeth echoed eerily through the space.
“Failed again…”
She muttered softly, her bloodshot eyes glaring at nothingness.
The energy of Grid, the ancient demon she had contracted with, had weakened. It was the result of the blow dealt at the lake.
“Even with a Sword Master there, this makes no sense…”
The Empress Dowager had been meticulous. To get her hands on the Little Lady she intended to use as a sacrifice, she had exploited the smallest opening.
While there had been some coincidences, things had been proceeding exactly as she desired.
Yet, there was clearly a power she hadn't accounted for protecting the girl. The thought was deeply unpleasant.
“I must find out what it is. Only then can I seize the sacrifice.”
She muttered, biting her nails. Then, seeing how wrinkled her fingers had become, she let out a shriek.
“Glen! Gleeen!”
“What is it, Your Majesty?”
A startled Glen rushed to her side. The Empress Dowager turned to him.
“The blood? Is the blood ready?”
“Yes, it is prepared.”
Glen scanned the Empress Dowager with worried eyes. Her body, having exerted so much power, had grown visibly frail. While it was a natural aging process, the Empress Dowager found the idea of her body growing old absolutely abhorrent.
“Once I have the sacrifice… I just need the sacrifice.”
Muttering the words over and over, the Empress Dowager stood up. Glen carefully moved to support her.