Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Lucky - 1
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A flustered Veronica, who had been hemming and hawing, suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me along.
I'd already heard everything I wanted to know from her at the Mage Guild. So just sharing information should give me a rough grasp of the situation.
Perhaps sensing my intentions, she led me to a small café.
A shabby place that didn't seem like many people would frequent.
This place is definitely...
"Give us a private room."
"Right away."
The café owner bowed politely and called over a server. As soon as we entered the private room guided by the server, Veronica tapped the wall.
-Rumble.
The wall slid open, revealing a path leading underground. When I looked at her, Veronica grinned.
"This is the Information Management Office, even the Pope doesn't know about it. Bet you didn't know either, huh?"
I did.
But she looked so proud, I didn't want to rain on her parade, so I kept my mouth shut.
We descended leisurely into the basement, where priests in black robes were bustling about. Some of them I recognized.
"Oh? Isn't that the Sage?"
"Oho~ Louis. You're working here too? I thought you were in the Inspection Department."
"A special voice like yours shines bright and can't be hidden."
The role of the Inquisition is to root out heretics and cults. Even church members aren't immune to such temptations.
History has proven that plenty of times.
"The Inspection Department is no different."
"I see."
"Louis. Give us a secure room."
"Yes. This way, please."
Deeper inside, we came to a room without a single gap. As soon as we entered the room lit only by the glow of a magic orb on the ceiling, Veronica spoke gravely.
"The ones suspected of belonging to the Black Rebels are the Pope and a few Cardinals."
"That's a lot. So if they're doing this to expand the church... what's the church's stance?"
"Naturally, we can't tolerate it. Reviving the Demon King goes against God's will. But announcing it publicly would just invite backlash... We're searching for evidence, but it's not easy."
"Evidence, huh."
"Isn't there something you can do? Hey, Hyunwoo. With your teleportation, couldn't you get into the Pope's chambers?"
"Ah, well, my teleport only works on places I've been to before..."
"I see..."
"But don't worry."
"....Huh? Why?"
"I asked Evangeline to handle it. Tonight, she'll sneak in and bring back irrefutable evidence. It's a pact sealed with the Demon King's power..."
"...What? Evangeline? Even the Hero Party... is involved in this?"
What's so weird about that? From the Hero Party's perspective, the Demon King is the enemy. If that enemy revives, it'll just mean more work for them, so of course they'd want to stop it.
"How'd you end up teaming up with them?"
"Oh. Are you jealous right now?"
"I'm being serious!"
Veronica slammed the table and shot up, yelling. She stared at me intently, then let out a low cough. Embarrassed by her excitement, she averted her gaze and fidgeted with her fingers.
"W-Well. I'm your friend, right? Your one and only best friend. So hearing you're hanging out with those girls who bullied you makes me worried, that's all. Hey."
"You don't need to be that serious about it."
I told her about meeting the Hero Party members in Tau's domain. Claire and Leventia were investigating with the kingdom's help.
And Evangeline was looking into the Pope.
When I shared the info from Tau too, Veronica bit her lip hard.
"...Hyunwoo. Do you trust them?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"You know the Hero Party... is approaching you, right? They want to rebuild their relationship with you."
"Of course."
"You want to stop the Demon King from reviving, don't you, Hyunwoo? But if the Demon King does revive... you'd move to defeat him, right?"
What was she getting at now?
In other words, the Hero Party might cooperate with the Demon King's revival just to team up with me again?
Veronica's eyes were trembling, so I smiled to reassure her.
"I'm serious!"
"I get what you're worried about, but the Hero Party members aren't that stupid."
Rebuilding our relationship by becoming my enemy would be putting the cart before the horse.
"Hyunwoo. Sometimes people make really foolish choices. Like the Pope reaching out to the Black Rebels right now..."
"Well, if they make that choice, they have to deal with the consequences."
The responsibility for choices falls on the chooser.
Whether the Hero Party was involved wasn't the point. I stopped Veronica from harping on that excitedly, shared information with her, and discussed what was coming up.
She seemed pretty dissatisfied about the Hero Party joining in, but she accepted it and focused on the main topic. We quickly wrapped up the strategy session.
By the time we finished and stepped out, the sun had already set.
"Is there anything else I can help with...?"
"Nothing else besides what we talked about. Oh, if you insist, could you help open the way when Evangeline sneaks in?"
"That much is easy. The infiltration starts at the Solar Pavilion, right? Good. I'm on night duty there tonight anyway. Tell her I'll be at the entrance."
Veronica was a Cardinal, with access to most of the church's restricted areas. Of course, not the Pope's chambers.
Still, her help would make Evangeline's infiltration easier.
"Alright. Be careful."
"What do I have to be careful about?"
"You do. Tau spoke like he knew you'd show up when you arrived, right? So the Black Rebels probably know you're a threat by now."
Guys trying to revive the Demon King wouldn't hesitate to attack me if I'm trying to stop it.
Veronica looked at me worriedly, and I smiled, placing my hand on her head.
"Huh?"
"You little rascal. Worried about your oppa?"
Veronica didn't know how to react, fidgeting with her fingers, her shoulders twitching and trembling.
Are you anxious? You're acting out of character.
"I'm the Sage."
"...Who doesn't know that?"
She spoke curtly in a slightly trembling voice, sighed deeply, and pulled a small necklace from her bag. It was a Cardinal's Divine Mark.
"With this, the Holy Knights will come to your aid easily. If you're attacked, run to a crowded place and yell for help. They'll come."
"Got it. Got it."
Not that I plan to.
"Take care of yourself. I won't forgive you if you get hurt."
Veronica poked my chest, stuck out her tongue, and headed back to the church. After parting with her, I stuffed the Divine Mark she gave me into my pocket and returned straight to the inn.
"I'm back."
"Uh, uhuh! Y-Yeah! W-Welcome back?"
Her breathing was ragged, her face flushed red. It was obvious her body was heated up. Shaking my head at her, I said nothing.
Did she have some fun time alone?
I thought about saying something but let it go. What she does in her free time is her business.
"The room's a bit stuffy. Go wash up."
"Uh... Y-Yeah... Okay!"
The moment I gave permission, Evangeline bolted to the shower like she'd been waiting. I opened the window for some ventilation, then hung my robe back on the hanger from the bed.
How much time passed with the sound of water running?
Evangeline emerged, head down, hunched over, peeking at my reaction. I spoke right away.
"Time to move. You won't mess up, right?"
"O-Of course, of course."
"Good. Once you're in the church, Veronica will help. Meet up with her first, then proceed."
"...Veronica?"
"Yeah. Problem?"
She fell silent for a moment, stared at me, then carefully opened her mouth.
"...No."
With that one word, she spoke her final words in an even more subdued voice.
"Nothing at all."
***
Even after a cold shower, her heated body wouldn't cool down. But she had no choice.
Being alone with Hyunwoo just moments ago had been sweet poison to Evangeline.
His slightly low, heart-piercing good voice.
The pleasant scent tickling her nose with every breath.
The natural aroma emanating from his body.
His face that brought peace just by looking at it.
All of it was inevitably fatal to her.
How could she not heat up being with someone like that?
It was far more real than any fantasy her delusions conjured, and she'd been with him for so long.
So, comforting herself alone was only natural, in a way.
Especially with his robe, soaked in his scent.
But even rationalizing it to herself didn't erase the shame.
She knew from Hyunwoo's expression when he entered earlier.
He'd noticed. That she'd hugged his robe and pleasured herself.
"Ah... Aaaah... Ahhh..."
Walking the darkened streets, Evangeline clutched her head.
In a way, this was an opportunity.
A chance to be with Hyunwoo.
A chance to do what he wanted.
A heaven-sent opportunity to apologize by helping him even a little.
When she should be showing only her best side, to be seen in such lewd, pathetic state...
Her self-loathing, which had peaked since parting from Hyunwoo, now surged with even greater disgust and despair, making her tremble.
"...St-Still, I can make up for it."
Yeah. Hyunwoo was always like that.
Think of a better tomorrow than yesterday.
Even the abuse and torment they inflicted, he brushed off with a smile, dismissing it as the past.
So, if she pulled off this mission well, he'd laugh off that stupid mistake from earlier.
Then. Then.
Lost in those thoughts, she arrived at the church. Among its countless spires and buildings, her target was the Solar Pavilion.
Recalling the route Hyunwoo had outlined, she remembered what he'd said.
Rendezvous with Veronica.
Evangeline bit her lip hard.
During the Demon King subjugation journey, after fighting alongside Hyunwoo in Baek Eun Village, Veronica had approached him frequently.
Of course, she'd helped the Hero Party along the way, but as a woman, Evangeline could tell.
Veronica liked Hyunwoo.
At first, she'd scoffed.
Hyunwoo had devoted everything to the Hero Party's journey.
Even without a blessing, he'd willingly endured hardships for them.
So Veronica's advances were just laughable.
No matter how much she tried to take him, he would never leave them—she knew that.
But now?
"...Ugh."
Fear and emptiness made her body tremble.
Hyunwoo holding hands with that silver-haired human beauty.
Hyunwoo embracing that silver-haired human beauty.
Whispering love to that silver-haired human beauty, sharing a room...
"Ahh... Ugh."
The horrific anxiety blooming in her heart heated her body. Her legs shook, teeth chattering.
A deeper terror than facing the Demon King made her legs buckle.
"...Haa... Ugh."
Evangeline clamped her mouth shut and clenched her fists.
Yes, not yet.
Hyunwoo hasn't gone to Veronica yet.
If she succeeds in this, if she can face him again...
Spilled water can't be recovered, but she could fill it with new, better water.
So, apologize for the past and start over with him...
Forcing the self-suggestion, she gritted her teeth and dashed toward her destination.
She traversed the rooftops stealthily enough that no one noticed, arriving at the Solar Pavilion.
Standing in the shadows, she spotted Veronica waiting and squeezed her eyes shut.
Now, face that woman.
The woman approaching Hyunwoo, trying to steal him away.
In that tension, Evangeline reached into her bosom.
What emerged was a worn fur glove.
Clutching the gift from Hyunwoo long ago, she muttered softly.
"It's okay... It'll be okay... It'll be okay..."
Please, don't crumble in front of that woman.
Steeling herself, she leaped from the building and barely lifted her head before Veronica.
Veronica looked at her coldly and said,
"...You guys. You're lucky."
Reading the hostility in Veronica's eyes, Evangeline bit her lip.
She was right—they were lucky.
If the Black Rebels hadn't stepped in, she couldn't even be with Hyunwoo like this.
Author's Note
Hello! It's Malmulmalmul!
Oh man... The holiday's already overㅠㅠ
Feeling down... Let's all get through another weekㅠ
See you tomorrow!