novelraw Chapter 47 : Chapter 47
Chapter 47 : Chapter 47
Chapter 47. Mammon (1)
I called Anonymous outside and explained the situation.
“If it’s about that, please leave it to me.”
Anonymous nodded readily with a pleasant expression on her face.
She seemed quite excited by the fact that we were going on a trip, just the two of us.
“Should we go to the royal palace, Master?”
“Yes. As fast as possible, please.”
“Huhu. One day is enough to reach the royal palace.”
Anonymous was about to transform into a dragon right away.
I hurriedly stopped her.
“Wait! If you transform into a dragon right now, the servants will be surprised. I want you to use magic to transform so that you won't be seen.”
Only my two daughters and Elliot knew her true identity as Anticus.
Even though the villagers and dragons had become friendly, it would be best to keep this information hidden as much as possible.
Anonymous said it was no problem and cast an invisibility spell on herself and me before transforming into a dragon.
This was the second time I had seen her transformed into a dragon.
‘It’s a scene I never get tired of seeing.’
A giant black dragon stood before me, and just looking at it was overwhelming.
‘To think such a huge creature is now my slave.’
I couldn't help but smile.
I casually threw out a question.
“Can no one see us right now?”
“Yes. If they could see us, they wouldn't be so calm right now.”
Anonymous pointed with her fingertip at the servants cleaning the mansion's hallway.
The servants continued their cleaning nonchalantly.
‘On the outside, nothing feels different, but to think she can conceal our appearance.’
It once again reminded me that this world was a place where magic existed.
“Then, we will depart immediately. Please hold on tight so you don't fall off.”
I held on tightly to her scales and flattened my body to avoid falling.
Anonymous seemed to gather her strength by crouching her body low.
She leaped into the sky with great speed.
The back of my neck was thrown back in an instant.
If the Pegasus' speed was a 1, was this about a 10?
I couldn't open my eyes at all.
“Keuk!”
Was this how Rude felt when he rode behind me while I was controlling the Pegasus?
Going fast is good, but I don't know if I'll live to see my old age at this rate.
I regretted not leaving at night when my power returned, but it was already too late.
All I could do was pray for a safe arrival.
***
At that time, in Tournai, the capital of the Benedict Kingdom.
Saintess Isabel, who had returned after her meeting with the Unseen Ones, sat at her desk and let out a long sigh.
“Haa, I promised cooperation, but I can't see the way forward.”
Could they really stop Primus?
Primus was a primordial being who appeared even in the scriptures.
He was the first of the Children of God to manifest and the ancestor of all humans and the Demon Tribe.
In a sense, it was not wrong to call him a demigod.
The Goddess had bestowed immense magical power upon him.
Isabel recalled the words Cardinal Daniel had given her before she left Oviedo.
“The Goddess Cult, the Unseen Ones, and the Hero Frank are the three pillars to stop Primus. We need to build a solid cooperative relationship. Your active role is desperately needed, Saintess.”
To think she would get entangled with Frank again here.
She muttered to herself without realizing it.
“How great it would be if Frank were by my side at a time like this.”
No.
As Daniel said, it would be best to go to Frank right now and ask for his cooperation.
By now, he would have heard the news from Rude and Noemi, who had gone on the Pegasus.
However.
“They said the dragon's paradise was invaded by someone. Frank must be out of his mind too.”
News she heard as soon as she returned to Tournai.
What kind of crazy people had attacked the dragon's paradise?
If she could have her way, she wanted to go to Rarc Village right now and help Frank, but the position of a Saintess was not one that could be moved at will.
Moreover, the nobles of the Benedict Kingdom, fearing they would be harmed, were too busy protecting their own safety even after hearing the news, and not a single one dispatched soldiers.
They said it would be best for the Baron to handle the affairs of his barony himself.
“I don't know if he'll be okay. Since Rude is by his side, I don't think he'll lose his life, at least.”
At that very moment.
A powerful magical energy was felt from the northeast.
Something was approaching this way at a rapid speed.
Isabel hurriedly left the cathedral and went outside.
Then she looked in the direction where the magical energy was felt.
It wasn't visible to the eye, but this power was similar to what she had felt when she first encountered Anticus.
“What is it? What's approaching?”
The others asked with puzzled faces, wondering if they couldn't feel this magical energy.
“Saintess, what brings you here all of a sudden?”
“The weather is cold. You'll catch a cold. Please go inside.”
“No, right now something is coming this way……”
Isabel couldn't continue her words.
Because the magical energy that had been approaching at a tremendous speed just a moment ago had suddenly been cut off.
‘What? Why suddenly.’
Was she on edge because she had too many worries recently?
Isabel shook her head from side to side and turned back to return to the cathedral.
‘To think I would have such a delusion. I should get some rest.’
But that night.
Unexpected figures came to visit her.
Her long-missed former lover, Frank.
And Anticus, dressed in a maid's uniform and sticking close to Frank's side.
What was this bizarre combinationIsabel felt an inexplicable sense of wariness rising.
***
“What brings you here? Weren't you in Rarc Village?”
Isabel asked with a disbelieving face.
Nobles cannot travel long distances at will.
They must report their travel to the royal palace in advance.
If not, it had long been established by Kingdom Law to prevent acts of rebellion.
The only exception was when a high-ranking noble came to greet them.
But Frank said it was an urgent matter and asked for secrecy.
“I came without prior notice due to some business. It would be best to keep this a secret.”
“What on earth is it?”
“Please don't be surprised. It's a matter related to the safety of the kingdom.”
Isabel listened intently to Frank's story.
Every word he said was an incredible story that was hard to believe.
The betrayal of the Lombard Kingdom, the schemes of the Demon Tribe, and Marquis Moltke's involvement.
Huge problems that shook the security of the kingdom came flooding in.
“In addition to this, I think I need to explain the situation with me and Anticus.”
When Frank finished speaking, Isabel asked back, unable to hide her bewilderment.
“Are you telling me to believe all that right now?”
Frank shrugged and pointed to Anticus standing next to him.
“If not, there would be no way to explain the fact that Anonymous, that is, Anticus, is so quiet right now.”
Anticus, receiving Isabel's gaze, held her head high arrogantly.
“Isn't the fact that I'm here proof enough?”
Isabel swallowed dryly and nodded.
‘The magical power I felt must have been Anticus'.’
In a sense, there could be no better situation than this.
It was as if the queen of dragons and the lofty ancient dragon had joined our side.
But Isabel didn't like Anticus at all.
‘Why is she sticking so close to Frank like that?’
Look at her now.
She casually linked her arm with Frank's and then held her head high in the air as if she were superior.
An attitude that seemed to say, 'Frank is mine'.
Isabel frowned and opened her mouth.
“I understand. Since the matter is what it is, I will arrange for you to meet His Majesty the King right now. However.”
“However?”
“I have something I want to say to Anticus.”
“To Anticus, not me?”
Isabel nodded and stared straight at Anticus.
At that, Anticus clung even more tightly to Frank as if she were the victim.
It was unbearable to see a being who could slaughter everyone in this place if she put her mind to it acting like that.
“Anticus!”
“Why?”
“Get away from Frank's side right now.”
“Why should I?”
“In any case, you are his slave. Your current appearance is not a proper demeanor for a slave.”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
She stuck her tongue out at her, and I almost screamed.
Isabel clenched her two fists and barely suppressed her anger.
‘The place you are in was originally mine. I'm so angry.’
Who would have imagined that the noble Saintess would have such thoughts?
But Anticus clearly seemed to have guessed the relationship between herself and Frank, and for that reason, Isabel disliked this situation even more.
‘How dare she link her arm with someone at will.’
She didn't care if the opponent was an ancient dragon or whatever; she couldn't leave the two of them alone like this.
***
Was she truly a Saintess?
Isabel arranged a secret meeting with the King at a surprisingly fast speed.
“This way.”
Isabel, who had guided them to the basement of the royal palace through a secret passage connected to it, asked them to wait here for a moment and left.
I gave a warning to Anonymous, who had been sticking to my side with unusual closeness since we came to the royal palace.
“I wish you'd stop sticking so close.”
“Why?”
“Because it makes me uncomfortable.”
“Hing. If so, I can't help it.”
Anonymous took a step away from me with a dejected face.
I didn't know why she was acting like this.
‘She did that to Adel and Noemi, and now to Isabel.’
By the way, the reaction Isabel just showed was clearly jealousy.
I knew she still liked me, but seeing it right in front of my eyes didn't make me feel comfortable.
But now was not the time for romance.
‘Even in the game, Frank's romance was a low priority. The goal of the game was always to defeat the Demon King and see various endings.’
Moreover, now the final boss was an inexperienced enemy named Primus.
Romance could wait until after defeating Primus.
No. If I defeated Primus, wouldn't I return to my original world right away?
If I had to remain in this world even after defeating him, there were too many things to think about.
While I was pondering this.
The door burst open and a familiar figure appeared.
“Oh. You really came.”
A benevolent-looking old man entered the room and grabbed my hand.
Charles VII.
The 27th King of the Benedict Kingdom and the one who had given me the title of Baron.
I bowed politely and showed my respect.
“Baron Frank greets His Majesty the King.”
“Haha. That's enough of that. Anyway, I heard you have something urgent to tell me.”
He glanced at Isabel and then turned his gaze back to me.
I told the King the same story I had told Isabel.
Of course, excluding the information that Anonymous and I had drunk the Magic Potion.
‘There's no need to tell him that far. The story to share with him now is about Marquis Moltke. And the problem with the Lombard Kingdom.’
Charles VII showed a dazed expression as if he had been hit hard on the back of the head.
After finishing my story, I handed him the evidence Alvarez had obtained.
“This is?”
“This is the evidence of the Marquis' betrayal that I have collected.”
Charles VII quickly scanned the documents I handed him and muttered with a gloomy face.
“To think the Marquis would betray the country. I knew he was an ambitious man, but I never thought he would come out like this.”
I suppose so.
This was a major incident that had never happened even once in the Princess Produce world I knew.
It was proof that the situation was changing that rapidly.
Charles VII spoke with a heavy face.
“What do you think we should do.”
So he was coming out like this.
In the Benedict Kingdom, even the King cannot handle state affairs at will.
Since the country started as a union of nobles, the King's power was not much different from that of high-ranking nobles.
Would it be an exaggeration to say that he was just a rubber stamp who sat on the throne wearing a crown and stamped important documents?
‘Even if there is physical evidence, we'll need his confession to punish the Marquis.’
I brought up the story I had thought of while coming here.
“How about this?”
“How so?”
“I understand that ancient ruins are sealed in the basement of the cathedral.”
“H-how do you know that?”
Charles VII stepped back in surprise.
Sigh. Why are you being like this.
I am a veteran player of this game who has rotted beyond recognition.
This much information is nothing to me.
Moreover, the ancient ruins I mentioned were the place that my daughters and I had visited the most among the many ruins.
‘Because there are a lot of useful items sleeping there.’
Among them was a Magic device called the Bracelet of Truth, which forced the wearer to speak only the truth.
It wasn't a very useful item in the game, but in the current situation, there was no better item than this.
I made a rough excuse, saying that I had heard information that the Bracelet of Truth was here while investigating other ruins.
“Th-there is such a thing?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Since it was information written in the ancient ruins, it must be true.”
“But an ancient demon is guarding that place. Will you really be alright?”
I smiled brightly and told him not to worry.
“There is no one in this world who has entered ancient ruins more than I have.’
“But haven't your abilities been sealed?”
“I have also prepared for that separately. Your Majesty only needs to grant permission for this.”
Charles VII looked at Isabel with an anxious face.
“What do you think, Saintess?”“I……”
Isabel also couldn't continue her words with a worried face.It probably wasn't because
she didn't trust my and Anonymous' abilities.The so-called cursed ruins.Because in the basement of the ruins I was about to go to, a Demon King-level ancient demon was guarding the way.
It was a place where Mammon, the demon of greed, was located, and it was also the reason why the cathedral was located in the Benedict Kingdom at the northern end.