Chapter 24: Spoken Words Are Like Spilled Water
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 24: Spoken Words Are Like Spilled Water
Everything in the world is relative. Where there is prosperity and light, deep shadows will inevitably breed in opposition.
For a metropolis as massive as Belland—one of the greatest on the continent—the shadows festering beneath the surface had already reached a terrifying scale. One could catch a glimpse of this through the "buy-anything" Underground Black Market.
It had long since become a malformed, bloated entity.
However, due to the indulgence or tacit approval of certain individuals, these shadows had not only failed to retreat in recent years but had even shown signs of encroaching upon the world of light.
But shadows were shadows; they could not withstand the sun. While they could proliferate at will in the darkness, the moment they caught the eye of the one who held supreme power in this country—His Majesty the Emperor—they would inevitably face total annihilation.
I remember a similar event happening in the original novel.
The cause was someone in the black market putting a bounty on the life of the Emperor’s favorite concubine. Someone actually took the contract and, against all odds, succeeded in the assassination.
Enraged, His Majesty ordered the Royal Knight Order to thoroughly purge Belland’s underworld. That brutal manhunt lasted for three whole months. So many people died that the sewers of the Royal City were stained crimson. Thus, it became known as the Blood River Incident!
After that, the protagonist even complained that thieves had completely vanished from the Royal City for a long time!
But that was supposed to happen two years from now!
As Muen thought of this, his face turned slightly pale.
"In other words... just because I gave my maid two days off, a major event that was crucial to the protagonist's growth has been moved forward by two whole years!"
"Fuck, talk about a butterfly effect!" Muen couldn't help but curse under his breath.
"Hmm? What butterfly?" An asked, casting a confused glance his way.
"No, nothing. I was just saying the butterflies this year are particularly beautiful. Yeah, really beautiful."
"Hehe."
Muen brushed An off with a few vague words and sank back into his thoughts.
Wait, if I think about it carefully, it shouldn't count as 'moving it forward.' After all, this can't possibly compare to the Blood River Incident in the original book. The assassination didn't actually succeed, so this is likely just a case of killing the chicken to warn the monkeys.
But even so, Belland’s underworld should stay quiet for a long time. At the very least, no one will be arrogant enough to try assassinating the Imperial Family again!
Which means the assassination of the concubine that was supposed to happen in two years might not happen at all.
If the concubine doesn't die, the true Blood River Incident won't occur.
But in the original book, the Blood River Incident was a pivotal event in the mid-game that had a huge impact on the protagonist!
The protagonist, who was attending an auction in the black market, got caught in the crossfire between the Royal Knight Order and the underworld. They were pushed into several life-threatening crises, and through those dangers, the protagonist used their Protagonist Aura to achieve a rapid explosion in strength!
You could say the Blood River Incident was the vital bridge that transitioned the story from the Academy Arc to the later Salvation Arc.
But now... it’s gone. It’s 'mu-da.' All because I, Muen Campbell, gave my maid two days off!
I'm screwed. What if this affects the protagonist's ability to save the world later on?
The more Muen thought about it, the more terrified he became.
If the protagonist couldn't defeat the final boss—that Demon God who would eventually break its seal—the entire world would be finished!
Because he gave his maid a holiday, the world was doomed!
No, no, no, wait. I'm overthinking this. The world isn't that fragile!
Even if the Blood River Incident is gone, there will surely be other events for the protagonist to grow!
Besides, it’s not even certain the Blood River Incident is canceled. This is all just my speculation!
I don't need to worry so much. The protagonist is loaded with cheats; they don't need my concern!
Muen kept comforting himself mentally, finally managing to calm his racing heart.
In truth, it was because a tiny bit of the plot hadn't followed the original book, resulting in Celicia’s assassination attempt. It had left Muen traumatized, making him fear that a single flap of his "butterfly wings" would trigger another catastrophic event.
"Anyway, I'll just have faith in the protagonist!" Muen shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside.
*
"Then, Young Master, please get some rest. I'll be taking my leave." Seeing that it was getting late, An bowed, preparing to depart.
"Yeah, alright."
"Ah, right. Young Master, there is a letter for you." An suddenly handed an envelope to Muen.
"A letter?" Muen turned the envelope over, finding neither a postmark nor a sender's name. "Who is it from?"
"It is from Her Highness Celicia," An said respectfully. "She personally asked me to deliver it into your hands."
"...It's her."
Muen was somewhat surprised but said nothing, simply dismissing An so she could rest. He stared at the white envelope for a long time.
"It's probably just a bunch of insults," Muen chuckled self-deprecatingly.
For a proud princess like Celicia, who valued her chastity more than her life, there was no way she would write a letter specifically to thank him just because he saved her—not after what he had done to her.
"I just hope she isn't too harsh."
Muen opened the envelope.
To his surprise, it wasn't a list of grievances. Instead, written in elegant, neat calligraphy, was a single sentence that seemed baffling at first glance:
【I suppose I'll grudgingly consider you half a man, Muen Campbell.】
Half a man? Can a man even be divided in half?
Muen was bewildered.
But very quickly, he realized why Celicia would say such a thing. It was because of something he had said earlier.
["Now... do I look like a man? My Princess."]
That was the line he had used to act cool while he was blocking the blade for her.
If he had actually died, that line would have been a legendary finishing move. Celicia probably wouldn't have been able to forget it for the rest of her life.
But... he wasn't dead!
Since he was alive, that line was incredibly cringy!
It was exactly like some domineering CEO from a Mary Sue novel, tilting the heroine's chin and giving a wicked smirk: "Do you find me 'manly' now, woman?"
Aaaaaah!
So embarrassing!
Can I please reincarnate back to that moment and slap myself?
If you're going to die, just die! Why did you have to try and act cool right before?
And it was so awkward! Even the Princess couldn't stand it; she actually wrote a letter just to mock me!
"I can't take it!"
Muen quickly tore up the letter, buried himself under the covers, and started squirming around like an agitated earthworm.
*
"Half a man?"
Outside Muen’s room, An stared fixedly at the door, murmuring to herself.
"Does that mean, to you, Princess, Young Master Muen still has the potential to become a 'full' man?"
"And what happens when he becomes a man? Will you fall in love with him?"
"Ah, that won't do. How could Young Master Muen accept the affection of a second woman besides me?"
An’s gaze gradually turned cold and dark.
"It seems I must speed up the progress on certain matters."