Chapter 168: The Frog Sheds the Curse ~ Please Reveal Yourself!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 168: The Frog Sheds the Curse ~ Please Reveal Yourself!
From the moment I realized the third wife was the Saintess and confirmed she was a frog, I had my doubts.
To be more precise, a question had formed in my mind: Is the Saintess really unable to break the frog's curse?
'Was the third wife even the Saintess to begin with?'
To be honest, that thought hadn't occurred to me at first.
However, when Scrawny and the Black Gyaru appeared, the Gate hadn't issued any special messages despite the actors being swapped. In other words, as long as the roles were filled, the Gate didn't care who was playing them.
'Vasilisa becoming a frog... well, that's probably just the nature of the curse.'
It was possible for the Saintess to be cursed, but for her to fall victim to one in a place like this was far too suspicious.
The Saintess had more experience clearing S-Class Gates than we did and was always active on the front lines. For someone like her to be turned into a frog by a common curse?
Even a passing dog wouldn't believe that story.
"Isn't that right, Saintess?"
Ribbit, ribbit.
—Of course. Who else would it be but me?
If there was one thing that bothered me, it was this. Every time the frog croaked, the Saintess sent a telepathic message that perfectly matched the situation. Because of this, I couldn't be sure if the frog was the Saintess or not.
'I won't get anywhere just by doubting.'
Should I try to break the curse?
It was a rational choice. Since the King had ordered the wives to bake white bread, he would likely present several more challenges. Each time, the Frog Princess's extraordinary abilities would manifest, and eventually, the curse would be broken at the end.
However, following the normal route to confirm the frog's identity would waste too much time.
'The ideal scenario would be to break the curse today and then turn her back into a frog.'
Wait a minute.
Why was I so focused on breaking the curse?
'There was a much faster way.'
[Deep Eyes activated! Identifying basic information of the target.]
The Saintess's information cannot be perceived with [Deep Eyes]. However, if it wasn't the Saintess, I could identify them easily.
'If I can't see the info, it's the Saintess. If I can, it's someone else.'
I almost took the long, tedious way around while sitting on such a useful skill.
Ding!
As the result message from [Deep Eyes] appeared before me, I couldn't help but let out a deep smirk.
"Now, what will you do, Saintess?"
Having grasped the situation, I looked at the frog.
Ribbit, ribbit.
—I'll do that.
The Saintess sent her telepathy immediately after I spoke.
'So that's how it is.'
It would have been dangerous if I hadn't checked beforehand.
+++++++++++++++
—On that one day! You and I! After that day we spent on a date...
"Yui!"
Click.
The moment the door opened and Yui walked in, the song playing in Karis's head cut off. Since they were on a date, he expected her to return late at night, but only three or four hours had passed.
'That's too short a time for anything to happen.'
It was an absurdly short window for her to use her charms or for Baek Tae-yang to pull any bullshit. Karis approached her with that thought in mind.
"Why are you so quiet? Yui, are you okay?"
"Ah... ah, what? Me? I'm fine. I'm totally fine. Want me to show you?"
"Huh? Ah... no need for that. I was just worried that bastard might have done something."
Yui understood exactly who "that bastard" referred to. Immediately, her face flushed bright red, and the strength drained from her legs.
Thump.
"Yui, what's wrong? What did that bastard do to you?"
Yui collapsed onto the floor and quickly hid her face between her knees. She knew exactly what would happen if Karis saw her expression right now.
'They mustn't fight...'
He must never, ever fight him. If that happened, a sub-story would trigger, and the person who triggered it would be forced to lead it to a positive conclusion. To lose in a story you created yourself? That would make you the most useless person in a Gate raid.
"No... I just tripped. These heels... I'm not used to them."
"It's because you're wearing something you never usually wear. You could have just gone out in sneakers."
"Uh... yeah?"
"I mean, if the date was only going to last three or four hours, it was probably just a casual outing, right?"
As soon as Karis finished speaking, Yui let out a hollow laugh.
'Does he have any idea what I did in that short amount of time?'
Looking at his face, it was clear he would never know in a million years. If she told him she went to an inn under the guise of using her charms, had her pussy licked, and even tasted his pre-cum...
Karis, would you even be able to believe it?
Yui shook off the stray thoughts and looked up at Karis.
"Right. I was just testing the waters. You have to give them a little hope and lead them on slowly to make them follow."
"O-Oh... I don't know much about that side of things, but if you say so, I guess that's it."
'The others should have been here instead of me.'
Yui thought as she forced strength into her legs and stood up.
"Anyway... since things are like this, don't go making contact with Baek Tae-yang on your own."
"Hmm? Why not?"
"Think about it. I'm slowly laying out the bait, but if you suddenly show up and start shouting, do you think the fish will bite?"
'But why is she being so prickly?'
Karis was bothered by Yui's subtly different attitude, but he didn't press the issue. It was natural to be sensitive after returning from a mission. Watching her walk into her room, Karis tried his best to be understanding.
'I'm sure she has her reasons.'
In that case, should he kill that scrawny guy next to him? Based on the protagonist's share, it was most ideal to deal with that guy and keep Baek Tae-yang under Yui's thumb.
'I need probability to kill a protagonist, though...'
A protagonist wasn't someone you could just kill because you wanted to. If a protagonist were a building, they were the foundation and the central pillars. Killing them thoughtlessly could cause the entire world to collapse into chaos.
'I should build up some probability in this Gate... huh?'
While he was sitting at the table lost in thought, Yui reappeared.
"Huh...? What's with the luggage?"
"I don't think it's right for us to be in the same space anymore."
"What? What are you talking about all of a sudden? You were the one who said a husband and wife have to stay together to stay in character."
"We aren't a real couple."
"No, I mean...?"
'What is she talking about?'
Karis stared at Yui. Her face was full of resolve, and her backpack was stuffed full.
"I've thought about it seriously. I'm trying to seduce Baek Tae-yang... but if I think about living in the same house as you, I'm worried he'll get the wrong idea and keep his distance."
'It's similar to how people say they're thinking about divorce when they're having an affair.'
Karis couldn't find a word to refute her logical, clipped explanation. Since this wasn't his area of expertise to begin with, a corner of his mind kept whispering, 'Is that so? I guess that makes sense.'
"...So you're leaving? Even if it's just for show, we're still a couple...? Fine, even if you leave, where are you going to go?"
"Where else? The castle is huge. I'm just moving to the detached villa."
"Don't be so sensitive, Karis-chan."
At those words, Karis could only nod and watch Yui's retreating back.
Click.
—You showed more interest in the First Prince than me, slowly pushing me away...
The song in his head started playing again.
+++++++++++
"It's finally time for the banquet."
"You look like you're in a great mood."
"Of course. It's finally time for the Saintess to appear."
After the sub-story ended, everything followed the original [Frog Princess] story faithfully. The carpets had been made and presented, and now all that remained was the banquet where all the wives would gather.
Min-su was making a huge fuss, saying he was excited because this was the moment the frog's curse would be broken.
"The First Prince, Baek Tae-yang, and his wife, Melanie, are entering!"
"I'm heading in first, then."
"Sure. I'll be in soon with the Saintess."
I wanted to say hello to Yui, but I held back. When I tried to act friendly while making the carpets last time, Melanie had scolded me severely.
'She said something like, "How can you look at another woman when your wife is right here with her eyes wide open?"'
I couldn't exactly just give her a surprise kiss on the cheek—wait, I actually did that. The image of Melanie hopping around in embarrassment right after I kissed her cheek was still vivid in my mind.
"You have the expression of someone thinking something very rude right now, Tae-yang."
"Me? Really? No, I was just dazed because you look so beautiful in that dress."
"Being too slick is also annoying."
"So what? We're a married couple anyway."
I pulled Melanie close by her waist as we entered the banquet hall. At the far end of the hall, I saw the King and Queen sitting leisurely. Imagining how their faces would change soon made me very entertained.
"The Second Prince, Karis, and his wife, Yui, are entering!"
The trumpeters blew with all their might every time one of us entered. It was a nice sound. As soon as Yui saw my face, she lowered her hand and gave a small, subtle wave. Now that the Black Gyaru had become obedient, she had a different kind of charm—
"Alright, I won't look, so could you stop stepping on my foot?"
"Tae-yang, could you stop blatantly ignoring your wife when she's right next to you?"
"...Sorry."
"I like that you're quick to apologize."
While enduring Melanie's jealous rebukes, the moment finally arrived.
"The Third Prince, Ivan, and his... wife are entering!"
I could fully sympathize with the herald's inability to bring himself to say "frog." Receiving a grand welcome, Min-su walked into the banquet hall alone, looking like a hero from a movie scene. Even as the nobles laughed with blatant mockery, Min-su didn't even blink.
Rumble, crash!
Suddenly, a thunderclap that sounded like it would split the world shook the castle. As the nobles fell into silence, Min-su spoke quietly.
"Do not be afraid. My wife is inside the box."
Creeeeeak.
The doors to the banquet hall grew two or three times their normal size, becoming wide enough for a carriage to pass through. Immediately, a carriage entered. The door of the golden carriage, adorned with all sorts of jewels, swung open.
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
"Kyaaaaaaaaah! What is that?!"
"A monster! It's a monster!"
"It's the work of a witch! Baba Yaga has appeared!!!"
Kim Min-su's wife revealed herself.
"Hmm... I've felt this for a while, but where am I, yum?"
Her body looked angular and hard, as if sculpted from steel. Her green skin was reminiscent of a deep swamp, and her forearms were two or three times the size of a shipping container, with shoulders like mountain ranges. Only the dainty pink ribbon on her head proved she was a 'woman.'
"Who... who are you?!"
Min-su cried out in horror.
"Me? I'm Who's Amanda."
His wife replied.
"I'm the Troll King."