Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Those Trying to Erase It - 2
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The Demon King strengthens monsters and drags the world into a pit of chaos.
And, as you might expect, there were plenty of people who profited from that chaos.
Those dissatisfied with the existing order, or with the world itself.
There were even plenty of lunatics who wanted to empower monsters to boost their own strength.
This applied not just to players, but to NPCs as well. And among them, the strongest faction was the Black Rebels.
The utter scum who lead the charge in resurrecting the Demon King and try to erase everyone else's hard work.
That's why, around the midpoint of the main story, I started worrying about them, but there was no easy way to deal with it.
The Black Rebels only appear in Adventure Mode after defeating the Demon King and clearing the main story. They don't move until a specific time, and before the event triggers, they're in random locations, making it tricky to hunt them down preemptively.
Of course, as a veteran, I'd identified most of the relevant figures during the main story and worked to cut off their ties.
Who would've thought it'd still happen despite all that?
"So? Who's behind it?"
I could guess three suspects.
Tau Greshiam, chief of the Tigerfolk.
The solitary Lizardman, Gultayrak.
Wheelrot, the mad witch of the south.
Even with my preparations, they were the types who might still fall for the Black Rebels' temptations. Just in case I'd missed something, I asked, and Vermund nodded gravely.
"They're so well-organized that all I've uncovered so far is Tau, the Tigerfolk chief. He's with the Black Rebels."
As expected.
The Tigerfolk are the most belligerent of the beastkin tribes, loving battle above all. Their numbers are few, and they live like hermits, so it's rare for one of them to join the Black Rebels. I'd even persuaded him just in case, but here he was stabbing me in the back. Guess the saying about not adopting yellow-headed beasts is true.
"Tau... hmm."
"You've met him before, right?"
"Yeah."
During the main story, I'd visited the beastkin nation and fought side-by-side with him against the Demon King's minions, battling like mad.
Vermund seemed puzzled as to why he'd join the Black Rebels.
In the game, the reason was simple.
Battle.
Tigerfolk are warlike and battle-hungry. Tau especially has a unique mental affliction: battle addiction. He couldn't forget the thrill of fighting the Demon King's forces.
That's why he's with the Black Rebels, trying to resurrect the Demon King and create even stronger enemies.
Ha. This is why mental illnesses are dangerous.
If you have a mental health issue, don't suffer in silence—go to the hospital right away.
It's nothing to be ashamed of.
Though I myself have an untreated condition on purpose.
Anyway, that's not important.
"Hmm..."
"So? What are you gonna do?"
This isn't something that can be handled at the Raidnin level—it's about resurrecting the Demon King.
Vermund asked me, and I crossed my arms, thinking.
Honestly, these days even beating the Demon King gives no achievements, so it doesn't matter much.
But sitting idle could interfere with other achievements, so better to deal with it.
No, before that—if he's cooperating with the Demon King's resurrection after all my persuasion, that's basically picking a fight with me.
I'm not kind enough to just laugh it off when someone provokes me without reason or reward.
I'll take it.
"For now, I'll take him down and use him to find the Black Rebels' leader."
"Not 'it'll work,' but 'it will'? You're that confident?"
"Yeah."
In the game, this method cleanly wiped out the Black Rebels.
If it were an achievement event, I'd optimize the route, but since it's not, why bother?
Just take the shortest path.
"Won't it be dangerous alone? Tau's pretty strong..."
As Vermund said, Tau is a Tigerfolk chief with top-tier combat skills.
But against Tau, I had plenty of counters.
"Don't worry about it. Soon as vacation ends, I'll go. Leave it to me."
"Ha. A sage is a sage."
Vermund grinned and lightly patted my arm. He flapped his wings and flew off. Once he was gone, I spotted Levantia standing alone on the opposite building, watching me.
Did she hear?
Not that she can do anything about it.
But just in case.
"Don't interfere."
And don't butt in unnecessarily.
Someone like Levantia can hear me from there. Sure enough, her shoulders twitched slightly. I flashed a smile at her staring gaze, then headed back to my room.
"Uuuum..."
By the way, why does this girl keep kicking off the blankets?
Oh? Her clothes are all disheveled too?
Who'd believe she's a cardinal? She looks like some neighborhood filly.
I straightened Veronica's black nun habit, which suited her sprawled-out pose perfectly, covered her with the blanket again, and headed to the sofa.
On the table by the sofa were knitting tools to raise my Handicraft proficiency. I picked them up.
"Yawwwn..."
The next day, around sunrise, I heard stumbling footsteps and a cute yawn from the bedroom. It was Lucille.
She shuffled out, still half-asleep, wobbling over to the long sofa and plopping down.
Then, like collapsing—
She rested her head on my thigh and fell back asleep.
What is this?
Her nightdress was hiked up slightly, exposing her pure white legs. I looked down at her, then used telekinesis to drape a nearby blanket over her.
"Uuuh... thirsty..."
While Lucille slept with my thigh as her pillow, another voice came. A beauty in a black priestess robe, face puffy from sleep: Veronica.
She scratched her messy hair, not bothering to fix her wrinkled robe, and looked around for water. Her eyes met mine.
"...What?"
"What."
"Why's the princess there?"
"Still sleepy, I guess. Here, water."
I handed her the pitcher on the table.
Veronica walked over with a dissatisfied look, sat naturally beside me, took the pitcher, and chugged it down.
What a bold way to drink—refreshing to watch.
"Puhaaa..."
She let out a low sigh, set the pitcher aside, and naturally lay down. Using my thigh as a pillow.
"...What are you doing?"
"Why? Can't I? Why won't you give me a thigh pillow too? Huh? Huh?"
"No reason you can't."
Her small head isn't heavy, and though knitting's a bit awkward, my Handicraft proficiency is too high to be stopped by this much distraction.
"But what are you doing?"
Lying there, looking up, Veronica asked. The yarn tickling her face made her wrinkle her nose. She stretched her legs toward what I'd been knitting all night.
Her stockings were off—who knows when—and her dainty white toes wiggled, reaching precariously. The slit widened as she strained, nearly flashing her panties, but she didn't give up.
"Ugh... uwaaah!"
If you're gonna do that, just lift your head and grab it? But she wouldn't detach, grunting until she finally snagged it and pulled it over, tilting her head.
"A scarf?"
"Gonna climb Raidnin's mountain today and tread on snow. A walk in untouched white snowfields is a Raidnin resort exclusive."
"So... you made this? Worried we'd be cold?"
"Yeah. Oh, as a cardinal, handmade scarves not your style?"
"W-Well, not exactly."
"Then wear it. Infused with warm magic runes and shamanic spells—top quality. Special made. Special. Sage special edition."
To max proficiency with knitting, I needed top-tier items. Naturally, that meant imbuing shamanism and magic.
I showed off the shamanic circles, holy circles, and magic circles woven into the scarf with garter stitch, stockinette, cables, and more.
Hm. Even I have to admit, it looks pretty good.
"Wow... this is... practically art?"
"Thanks for the praise."
I don't think it's quite that, but Veronica fiddled with it, eyes sparkling.
"You really made this for me?"
"Precisely, for you and the princess."
"...Can't you just say it's for me in times like this?"
I smiled at her pouting lips.
"Even so, saying that would make the princess sulk. Right, Princess?"
"Ugh. Y-You... knew I was awake...?"
Lucille, eyes closed, flinched and looked up. Her pretty face was beet red. Well, embarrassing, sure—dozing over, then realizing you're thigh-pillowed.
"You can always be bold. Not like her, though."
"What? Am I embarrassed? Huh? Am I, friend?"
"Nah. Anyway, made 'em for you both."
"Th-Thank you..."
"Yours has a holy power boost spell. Princess's enhances mana."
"But Hyunwoo. Who else have you made these for?"
Instead of answering Veronica's question, I just smiled.
Who else would I make gear like this for?
"...Ah."
Of course, questionable if they still have them.
Last time I gave some to Levantia and Evangeline, they weren't thrilled.
I get it—my Handicraft was low then, so probably not satisfactory.
Maybe avoiding the scarf topic, they switched subjects and started chatting. Despite being awake, neither got up—fully enjoying the vacation.
Drowsy chatter, dozing off, waking to chat more, munching snacks messily while lounging.
How much time passed?
Once the scarves were done, they regretfully sat up.
Soon after, breakfast sandwiches arrived, prepared by Raidnin staff. After eating and them going to wash up for the day's plans—
The door opened, revealing a familiar face.
"Well, if it isn't. What brings Archduke here? Thought hangover would keep you away till noon?"
Cecil, looking quite embarrassed. And, predictably, Levantia stood behind her.
"Ahem. I think I was rude yesterday."
"It's fine. Happens."
"And... I have something to ask."
"The beastkin culprits' backer? Heard from Vermund?"
Nod. Cecil nodded, then stared straight at me.
"Tau, Tigerfolk chief. That's the backer, right? Sage, your thoughts?"
"If Vermund investigated, it's reliable."
"...I see. Got it. Soon as the birthday party's over, I'll head back and lodge a formal protest."
"Protest? That's unexpected."
I figured she'd go full exterminate or subjugate. She grinned at me.
"Good opportunity. There's land I need in beastkin territory. Can use this to pressure them."
"Tau's just the Tigerfolk chief—pressuring all beastkin with that? Tough."
Their king, Leo, isn't that easygoing.
Cecil grinned.
"That's why, Sage."
"Nope."
"...I haven't said anything yet?"
"You're asking me to help pressure the beastkin, right?"
She thought since I helped before, I'd jump in. Sorry, no. Actually, not even sorry.
Hate that. Too much hassle, and I'm not strangers with Leo.
Even if it meant free achievements via Cecil, it goes against my principles.
"Fine? Too bad then."
Cool as ever. I say no, she drops it clean.
"Then no more business, so if you please?"
"Sure. But if you change your mind, come find me anytime."
"Depending on the price, sure—but doubt you can offer what I want."
"Heh. We'll see."
Cecil sauntered out leisurely. But Levantia was different. Her eyes fixed on one spot.
What she stared at.
Was the scarves made for Lucille and Veronica.
Author's Note
Hello! It's Malmulmalmul! Chuseok holiday started, but nothing special here lol ㅠㅠ
Hope you enjoy, see you tomorrow!
ps. Previous works marked as drafts need lots of fixes after rereading. Will revise slowly and upload separately later lol