novelraw Chapter 156
Chapter 156
Ch.156 Thus, everyone fell deep in thought
Seated in his office, Hans reviewed yesterday’s reports.
No major changes had occurred overnight—Pisa remained peaceful.
A few nearby wild beasts had turned undead and attacked a farm, but the situation was quickly contained—a report that only added to his contentment.
Thud thud thud!
Suddenly, footsteps thundered toward him at incredible speed.
What could possibly make someone run like that inside the mansion?
Before Hans could wonder further—
Clang!
The door burst open—Mia stormed in, her face twisted with fury.
“M—Mia? What’s wrong?”
Thud… thud…
Sweat dripped from her contorted, demon-like expression.
She grabbed Hans by the collar and shook him violently.
“Again?! It’s not four—it’s five now?!”
“Aaagh! C—calm down! W—what happened?!”
“Tell me! What happened between you and Selena during your travels?! Speak, you womanizing bastard!”
“Aaaah! I—I can’t breathe!”
“Oh? Can’t breathe?! Then I’ll just cut your windpipe right now!”
“Aaah!”
Seeing the madness in Mia’s eyes as she throttled him, Hans felt pure terror.
Th—this is bad! She’s completely lost it!
Certain he was about to die, his whole body trembled—
“Enough. You’ll really kill Hans at this rate.”
At the sudden, melodious voice, Hans turned his head—Aria had seized Mia’s wrist.
“Haa…”
A tense standoff began between Mia and Aria.
“Let go.”
“You’re an outsider. Step aside.”
Mia’s provocative words sent chills down Hans’s spine.
Wh—why is she acting like this?
“You’ve lost your fear, elf. What did you just say?”
Aria’s eyes shifted into reptilian slits, stirring a gale around her.
“I said outsider—what of it?”
“Hah?”
Before Aria could retort, Mia cut in.
“Hans accepted my vow. We’re as good as married. What’s your relationship with him that you interfere between us, Lady Aria?”
Aria shot Hans a sharp look.
“So? Are you going to kill him?”
“Hmm? Maybe—if his answer proves unsatisfactory.”
“S—save me! Aria!”
“If he were an ordinary man, I wouldn’t interfere.”
She turned to lock eyes with Mia.
“But not now.”
“Tch…!”
Mia glared as if ready to fight—
Aria calmly replied,
“Know this—if you kill him now, your family won’t survive either. Do you truly wish to kill them all?”
Mia turned her burning gaze toward Hans.
“Speak. What was your relationship with Selena?”
Her grip loosened slightly—now he could breathe.
“What relationship?”
“The Church followers confessed—don’t even think of lying. Tell us everything.”
Repeatedly stated before: Selena betrayed him and stole his spatial bag.
She’d approached him solely to either kill him or steal the Concept Artifact.
But why bring it up now?
“Speak quickly.”
Mia’s expression darkened again, prompting Hans to protest.
“We’re estranged! Betrayed, remember? I’ve said it countless times!”
“Is that really all? Can you swear there was never any romantic feeling between you?”
Hans paused briefly, then shook his head.
“That… was just a trick to lower my guard so she could steal from me. Sure, I was foolish enough to fall for it—but it’s over now.”
Months had passed since then.
He didn’t love Selena anymore.
She was an enemy to kill—she’d nearly slain him once.
If the Hero Party hadn’t arrived, he’d have died then.
“But why ask this now?”
At Aria’s question, Mia frowned.
“A Church follower confessed that after killing you, Selena was deeply troubled—as if heartbroken after a lover’s breakup.”
What absurdity was this?
“What?”
Heartbroken after a breakup? Then why try to drown her lover?
“Wait a minute…”
The Church of Death was deemed fanatical precisely because of its doctrine:
Death is a blessing—not to be feared, but a peaceful, loving passage to the afterlife.
Could it be… that insane woman…?
“Explain clearly. What exactly did the Church follower confess?”
She folded her arms and scrutinized him.
“Among those captured was a major figure—the capital branch chief, who once served a woman named Selena.”
So a confidant of Selena was caught?
Tense, Hans pressed, “And?”
“He said that after killing you—her great enemy—Selena always looked sorrowful, as if about to cry at the slightest touch.”
Her words made his head spin.
“Wait…”
Mia continued, arms still crossed,
“Despite killing the Church’s archenemy, she wasn’t joyful—but sorrowful. You should know what that implies.”
Just then—
“Exactly! Hans! Once again, seduce that woman! Make her expel Roy’s soul!”
Aria, oblivious to the mood, cut in—smiling.
Her rare smile showed genuine excitement—
“No! Read the damn room!”
“Lady Aria, could you please learn some tact?”
Despite their combined protest, Aria remained shameless.
“I’ve read it perfectly. Just use your legendary playboy skills to win Selena’s heart—that’s all!”
“But… it’s not that simple…”
Mia’s eyes turned murderous as she grabbed Hans by the collar again.
“Again?! AGAIN?! You haven’t even consummated our vow yet—and you’re straying AGAIN?! Do you truly wish to die?!”
“Aaagh! Save meee!”
***
Aria stopped Mia just before she choked Hans to death.
She summoned Edward and Giovanni.
“Alright, our plan is simple. This lich developed a magic item capable of entering a human’s mindscape. We’ll use it to persuade Selena—the King’s vessel—to force Roy out of her body.”
Giovanni stared at the lich in shock.
“A human’s mind? Isn’t that dangerous?”
Aria shook her head.
“I, a dragon, guarantee this item functions properly.”
“Wow… impressive.”
“However, it’ll take about a week to finalize its portability for battlefield use.”
At her words, Aria shot Hans a glare.
“Lady Aria, once it’s ready, can I enter Hans’s mindscape first?”
“Do as you please. Now, back to the point—evidence suggests Selena loved Hans.”
Her words tangled Hans’s thoughts.
Could he possess some divine curse that made lunatics fall for him?
Why did every woman drawn to him seem utterly unhinged?
Had the gods truly cursed him?
This world felt like it was conspiring against him.
“Are you certain?”
Mia’s icy stare made him instinctively shrink.
But… why pick on me?
If even one of them were remotely sane, would he have flirted with Selena?
Every single one was domineering and unhinged.
“But I’m the victim here!”
“After stringing along five women, you dare claim victimhood?”
At Mia’s words, Aria patted Hans’s shoulder.
“But thanks to you, we now have a way to save the world. Don’t be so angry.”
“Tch… Lady Aria! Is it alright for Aria’s father to recklessly cheat?!”
Aria shrugged.
“Dragons don’t have marriage.”
“What?”
“We simply produce offspring. There’s a bond between mother and child—but none between father and child.”
“So…?”
“Frankly, I don’t even know who Aria’s father is.”
Everyone froze.
So she was a completely promiscuous dragon!
“Of course, dragons don’t marry—but unlike Hans, we don’t engage in chaotic relationships.”
Her outrageous statement made Hans explode.
“Who are you calling promiscuous, you pedigree-less mutt?!”
Aria stared at him incredulously.
“Are you calling me promiscuous?”
“Mating with anyone randomly—that’s promiscuity! I never took you for such a disappointment, Aria!”
Aria’s brows twitched.
“Don’t judge dragons by human standards.”
“By elf, dwarf, or even demon standards—it’s still promiscuous!”
Mia, Giovanni, and the lich all nodded in agreement.
Unfazed, Aria stood proudly.
“This is precisely why other races are inferior. Reproduction is sacred. Dragons prefer free breeding over marriage—it increases hatchling survival rates.”
She might as well be in Animal Kingdom.
Everyone stared at Aria the same way Hans did—making her frown.
“Why look at me like that?”
“Now I understand your composure! Living so licentiously, of course you can’t grasp why I’m angry!”
Instantly, a hot gale surged from Aria’s body.
“Licentious? You dare insult dragons?!”
She seemed genuinely furious.
“Alright, alright—species-specific dating habits aside, let’s get back to business.”
Hans’s attempt to calm her made Aria sigh deeply.
“Fine. Dragon matters aren’t priority. But is it certain Selena still has feelings for Hans?”
Giovanni nodded.
“According to Alex, a Church follower, she was deeply depressed before being possessed by Roy’s soul—barely left her room, barely ate.”
Good grief… how sentimental.
“Given their doctrine teaches reunion after death… perhaps she believed that.”
“So… am I really supposed to seduce her?”
Mia shot him a murderous glare.
“You must. Infiltrate Selena’s mind, shake her heart, seduce her—force Roy out.”
But Aria’s plan had one critical flaw.
“But… her devotion to her god outweighs any affection for me—that’s why she nearly killed me! How can I possibly change that?”
Even if Selena loved him, her faith in the God of Death ran deeper.
Unless that changed, she’d never expel Roy.
“Hmm… you’re right.”
Caught off guard, Aria anxiously chewed her nails.
“There must be a way. If we all think hard enough, we’ll find a solution.”
And so, everyone fell deep in thought.
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