novelraw Chapter 117
Chapter 117
Ch.117 Is there any other way?
That night, back in the Imperial Capital…
“Ugh… I’m so full.”
During the day, I’d toured the city with Mia and Scarlet; for dinner, the Emperor held a grand banquet I attended—but…
Ministers kept throwing me subtle, disapproving glances—as if unsure whether my food went in through my mouth or nose—while Leah and Cecilia shot me annoyed looks.
Of course the ministers resented me—I’d moved an entire fortress without the Emperor’s permission. And Leah and Cecilia were obviously pretending to dislike me for each other’s benefit; their exaggerated glares were clearly staged.
“Does everyone have to make life so hard?”
Every moment with Scarlet and Mia felt like my blood was draining away.
‘Hans-ssi, shall we go to the opera? It’s been so long.’
Back when Scarlet first visited the Imperial Capital, I’d taken her to the opera—entertainment was so limited compared to modern Earth that opera was one of the few decent options.
She must’ve been recalling that memory…
‘The Sage doesn’t enjoy such noisy music.’
But Mia, being an elf, perhaps due to heightened hearing, disliked loud sounds.
‘But you went with me all the time before, didn’t you?’
Mia shot me a look.
‘Doesn’t the Sage prefer strolling through the mountains? Isn’t that right?’
‘Then… maybe we should just tour the Imperial Capital together? The three of us never explored it before, right?’
Reluctantly, they both nodded.
After sightseeing, more icy glares awaited us at the palace.
I honestly don’t understand why life has to be this exhausting.
If only they’d all just leave me alone.
“Huu…”
What should I do about Selena?
When the King of the Dead dies, the possessed vessel always dies too.
Without exception.
I remember it as a core game mechanic—the vessel perishes alongside the King’s destruction.
Does that mean… I have no choice but to take her life myself?
Our shared memories made it hard to reach that decision as a human being.
She’d tried to kill me, yes—but…
What if she’d been brainwashed by the Church of Death’s fanatics?
That wouldn’t erase Selena’s crime—but it did make me feel a little sorry for her.
She said she was from an orphanage, right?
I’d seen forum posts claiming the Church of Death ran orphanages to brainwash children.
They’d indoctrinate kids using fabricated stories—wasn’t that the setting?
“Well… nothing to be done. She’s fated to die… better not overthink it.”
After all, Selena had genuinely tried to kill both me and Nekhuf.
Her death alongside the King of the Dead was only fair payment.
Damn it… I’ll stop thinking about it now.
No need to dwell on unpleasant thoughts.
—Knock knock.
Who could it be at this hour?
Curious, I called out.
“Who is it?”
‘It’s me. Saintess Cecilia.’
“Ah…”
I hurriedly opened the door at Cecilia’s voice—only to find her cheeks slightly puffed.
“Hmph!”
What… what’s with the ‘hmph’? She came here herself!
If she’s going to sulk, she shouldn’t have visited at all.
“D-do you want to come in?”
“Yes.”
She stepped in and sat on the edge of my bed.
“Have you been well?”
“I’ve been fine. But your expression…”
Cecilia shot me a sidelong glance.
“I heard you’ve been strolling with Mia lately?”
“Huh?”
When I couldn’t sleep at night due to overthinking, I’d often go to the garden—and Mia was always there.
So we’d walked together a few times—but…
“I just went out when work stress kept me up at night. How did you even find out?”
“Well… that’s…”
Cecilia rolled her eyes.
Her mysterious behavior sent a chill through me.
It’s a week’s journey from the Imperial Capital to my domain.
For her to know exactly who I met and what I did… that’s deeply unsettling.
What if, before I can even catch the King of the Dead, I end up quartered by these women?
Cold sweat trickled down my spine.
“Ahem… well, I have my ways. Anyway! Don’t get too close to Mia.”
“I… I won’t.”
She stared at me intently.
“Really?”
I nodded firmly, as if it were obvious.
“Of course. You’re the only one for me.”
—Knock knock.
Just then—another knock.
Who is it?
Our eyes met.
When she gave me a look implying, ‘Who else would visit you?’, I shook my head vigorously.
‘I know you’re not sleeping.’
Leah’s voice came from beyond the door.
—Zzzt!
She glared at me with dangerous eyes.
Cecilia quickly slipped into the wardrobe in the corner—
—Swish.
She opened it, stepped inside, and jerked her chin toward the door.
Her gesture clearly said: ‘I’ll hide here—you open the door.’
Goosebumps prickled my spine at her eagerness to eavesdrop like a pervert.
—Knock knock! Knock knock!
Leah knocked impatiently.
‘I know you’re in there! If you don’t come out, I’ll burn the door down!’
At her thinly veiled threat, I sighed deeply.
“Haah…”
—Creak.
I opened the door to find Leah standing there, eyes sharp.
“Why’d you take so long to open?”
“I was asleep…”
“Hmph!”
Odd… she’s acting exactly like Cecilia.
She asked, “What are you doing? Not letting me in?”
She was clearly demanding entry into my room.
I wanted to talk outside—Cecilia was inside—but…
She shoved past me before I could stop her.
What… what is happening?
I deeply regretted agreeing to Aria’s request today.
As soon as she entered, Leah snapped,
“Explain. Why have you been clinging to Mia lately?”
Her words confused me.
Was a few garden walks really ‘clinging’?
“Huh? What are you talking about? And how did you even know?”
Both Cecilia and Leah knew about my walks with Mia—how?
“That’s… that’s not the point! Why are you sticking to Mia, Master?!”
Leah sounded like a jealous child—making me sigh again.
“We haven’t been ‘sticking’ together. If I tell you how I know, will you tell me how you found out?”
Both Leah and Cecilia seemed to have gotten their info from the same recent source.
If they’d known earlier, they’d have grilled me in letters.
I needed to uncover how they were getting intel on me.
“Fine. You go first, Master.”
I shrugged dismissively.
“I just walked in the garden when work stress hit. Mia was always there.”
Mia was a High Elf—she loved gardens with trees and grass, so we kept running into each other. That’s all.
“Really?”
Seeing her skeptical look, I just shrugged.
“That’s it. Now tell me how you knew.”
Leah scratched her cheek.
“Aria told us.”
“What? Aria?”
That was strange.
“How did she see that?”
“She saw you two together through her window at night.”
Ah… now I remembered.
Cecilia and Leah had taken Aria out that day.
It clicked: they’d lured her with treats and interrogated her about me—and innocent (or clueless) Aria had spilled everything.
“I see… so that’s how.”
Just as I pieced it together, a petulant voice reached my ears.
“Pfft… Master didn’t even miss me?”
Leah’s eyes were half-lidded.
“Huh? What?”
Her words baffled me.
Cecilia was watching us from the wardrobe.
“I missed Master so much…”
Leah’s face reddened slightly, clearly embarrassed.
“R-really?”
Just then—
She lunged forward and hugged me tightly.
Why… why are you doing this? Do you really want to kill your master?
Was the cold killing intent from the wardrobe just my imagination?
Leah rubbed her face against my chest, then looked up.
“Hmph. Guess you didn’t miss me at all.”
Her disappointed expression left me flustered.
“Well…”
I opened my mouth—but words wouldn’t come.
Cecilia was hiding in the wardrobe.
Anything I said would be twisted against me.
“Tch… after all this time apart, is this really how you treat me?”
Watching her pout, I grew anxious.
‘Am I about to die by Leah’s hand?’
Her eyes burned fiercely, a few strands of fiery red hair defying gravity—a sight both unsettling and mesmerizing.
Illusion magic? Or will my head explode?
This wasn’t a joke.
Frantically searching for an escape, a glimmer of hope struck me.
Cecilia couldn’t kill me.
Not while the King of the Dead still lived.
She was fundamentally too kind-hearted.
If I died, the adversary would vanish—and the world’s destruction would be certain.
Even if her mind was a garden of flowers, she wouldn’t risk ending the world; she’d just stew silently.
But…
Leah was different.
When angry, she acted without thinking—spells flying everywhere.
The best move was clearly to soothe Leah.
Gently, I stroked her hair.
“I actually missed you.”
At my soft words, she leaned into my chest and asked,
“Really?”
“Of course.”
She peeked up at me, her face flushed.
Why’s she acting shy? She used to be way more forward when we were alone!
“Master… can I really believe you? You truly love me, right?”
Her anxious eyes trembled slightly, making my chest tighten.
After all… we had lived together for a long time.
Our master-apprentice relationship wasn’t exactly normal—but that cohabitation gave her a special place in my heart.
Not as a woman—more like a little sister.
“That’s…”
Should I tell the truth?
But could I?
‘I don’t love you. To me, you’re just like a younger sister.’
Knowing Leah’s temper, she’d unleash magic everywhere—and I couldn’t say that.
Then… is there another way?
Wait—was there ever another way?
As my mind spiraled—
—Knock knock.
Another knock echoed at my door.
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