Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 154
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 154
‘It’s okay. Nothing will happen.’
Whispering to myself several times, I turned Leo around and held him in my arms so no one could see the child’s eyes.
Leo wasn’t the only one who targeted the demon’s life.
Giuseppe’s spear aimed at the demon, my magic chains bound the demon so it couldn’t move, and Ophelia was closest to the demon.
It’s not clear who the demon’s malice was directed toward.
So what’s important now is.
‘Did they see?’
Whether anyone else witnessed Leo piercing the demon’s heart.
I calmly recalled the situation that just occurred.
Ophelia was standing with her back turned, and Giuseppe couldn’t see that it was Leo who pierced the heart due to the demon’s massive body blocking his view.
So only Leo and I saw it clearly.
I gently patted Leo’s back and whispered quietly so only Leo could hear.
“It’s okay, Leo. The Priest took care of the demon.”
“B-but just now, our eyes met…”
“Shh, it was dark so you saw wrong.”
Leo doesn’t know the reason why he shouldn’t directly kill demons.
He’s just trembling from the guilt of killing something in human form, unlike slimes.
So.
“I pierced the demon’s heart.”
This is both the best option and my hope.
I’d rather it be me who killed the demon.
I spoke toward Giuseppe, who was carefully examining the demon’s corpse.
Soon his eyes turned to me with a strange light, and a divine barrier spread around not only me, but also Ophelia and Giuseppe himself.
I realized this barrier wasn’t to protect us from the outside, but to protect the outside from us.
Giuseppe must also be uncertain about who among us the demon’s malice was directed toward.
“If what you just said is true, it would be quite disadvantageous for you, Marquess.”
I’m just the most likely suspect.
Ophelia stepped in front of Giuseppe as he slowly approached me.
“High Priest! I cast a divine barrier for a moment. So there shouldn’t be a big problem…”
“Saint, personal lies weaken divine power. You must not speak any more falsehoods.”
It was an obvious lie, but I was grateful for her feelings.
He erased even the faint smile he usually wore and looked at Leo in my arms, then let out a light sigh.
“Have you ever heard of the Authority of Insight? It allows one to glimpse the future and past of others. Please allow me to use the Authority of Insight so I can trust your words, Marquess.”
Only then could I understand the hostility he showed me at our first meeting.
He probably saw Belinda’s past evil deeds when he gave me his blessing.
‘To think he was hiding such a cheat-like ability.’
He’s definitely someone I can’t let my guard down around.
I tightened my hold on Leo and spoke sarcastically.
“I refuse. Unlike before, I don’t particularly need the High Priest’s trust anymore.”
“Marquess, I promise to help ensure you don’t suffer unfair treatment. I’m only trying to confirm the facts. So please give me your hand…”
“If you take even one more step toward Master, I’ll drill a pretty breathing hole in your neck, Priest.”
At that moment, with a cheerful voice, a dagger with a wickedly sharp blade was placed against Giuseppe’s neck.
Terry, half-melted into the darkness, flicked the dagger mockingly, but Giuseppe kept his gaze fixed only on me as if he couldn’t see Terry.
“I simply want to know if you truly took the demon’s life, Marquess.”
I know Giuseppe isn’t bad. He can’t let someone cursed by a demon roam the streets of the Royal Capital.
However, all that justice lost meaning in front of Leo.
I anxiously checked the time limit blinking in the corner of my vision.
Remaining time limit: 00:00:32
You will be forcibly ejected from ‘Underground Waterway with Siren’s Song’ in 00:00:32.
“How many times do I have to tell you that I killed it?”
If I just hold out for about 30 seconds, Leo will be forcibly ejected from the dungeon first… and then…
“Marquess, your status and authority in the Kingdom cannot protect you.”
‘What happens after that?’
If, if the demon’s curse really did affect Leo.
I gritted my teeth.
As Giuseppe said, when it comes to demons and black magic, even the Royal Court can’t overcome the authority of the Temple and Magic Tower.
Perhaps there might come a time when I can’t protect Leo with my own hands.
At the moment when this terrible assumption made me unable to readily counter Giuseppe’s words.
“Then how about the authority of the Magic Tower?”
The divine barrier surrounding our group began to slowly melt away, and yellow butterflies started flying in one by one.
“…!”
The butterflies fluttering like flower petals gathered behind me with a heavy presence.
“The Magic Tower will take responsibility for this matter instead of the Temple.”
I couldn’t believe the gentle voice I heard by my ear.
I turned my head to look behind me.
There stood a man like a mirage, firmly embracing my shoulders while smiling like spring flowers.
But the warmth touching my shoulders, the languid voice pouring into my ears, everything was so vivid that.
“So don’t lay your dirty hands on my master.”
I could be certain that Chaser standing behind me wasn’t an illusion created by the Siren.
* * *
Giuseppe examined the suddenly appeared opponent without showing any confusion.
A cape indicating Magic Tower affiliation.
However, it wasn’t the pitch-black cape used by those of lower ranks.
The man was wearing a gray cape that only the Magister representing the Gray Tower could wear.
After confirming the ornate accessories, spring flower-like hair, and finally the brooch on the cape indicating 9th Rank, Giuseppe spoke.
“…Quite a late entry into the battle.”
“I just arrived at the Royal Capital. I would have ignored a Temple request as usual, but my master and disciple are involved in this matter? So what choice do I have.”
His playfully shining gray eyes were dyed gold as if divine power had settled in them.
“I have no choice but to personally come and chase away the gnats bothering my master.”
A sharp atmosphere flowed between Giuseppe and Chaser.
A tense situation on the verge of explosion.
Belinda broke away from Chaser and tapped the shoulder of Leo, who was burying his head in her embrace.
“Leo, you just bravely saved me.”
At those words, Leo, who had been extremely tense, slowly raised his head.
Confirming that the child’s eyes were still a clear sky blue, Belinda pressed her forehead against Leo’s and whispered quietly.
“So you don’t need to be so dejected. We’ll be out soon, so wait for me.”
Just as Leo was about to respond to those words, the child’s body began to scatter into golden particles.
Time limit has been reached.
‘Hero’s Star’ is being forcibly ejected from the dungeon.
Only after checking the system window did Belinda let out a sigh of relief and straighten her back.
She briefly looked back at Chaser, then nodded with a weak smile.
“Now then, let’s begin the adults’ conversation.”
* * *
In front of the Temple.
Thanks to the Temple informing the parents of the missing children, the area in front of the Temple was bustling with an unusual number of visiting nobles.
Asillia dodged left and right to escape her second brother’s fierce hands that kept grabbing her head and hitting her back, screaming loudly.
“Ah, Brother. Stop hitting me already!”
“You troublemaker! How much more are you going to worry the family! It’s not enough that you cause trouble at home, now you’re causing incidents at the Grand Temple in the Royal Capital? This is exactly why I opposed your enrollment at the Royal Academy!”
“Damn it, why… why are you only getting angry! I’ve awakened my aura now!”
“This girl, really, is that measly aura important right now!”
“Agh! I really… *sob*, I was so upset, I, I was incredibly scared! But Brother doesn’t even understand my feelings!”
Though Asillia even shed a few tears, the second son of the ducal family, who had long watched his troublemaking sister, didn’t stop his fierce hand movements.
“What are you crying about when you haven’t done anything praiseworthy?”
“Ah, seriously!”
While Asillia was going through her ordeal, Ian’s situation wasn’t much different either.
“I was so shocked when I received the Temple’s message that you had gone missing… And here you are with a face as fresh as if you just took a nap…”
“Father…”
Ian patted his father’s back, who was getting emotional and sniffling, with a stoic expression and spoke gently.
“I’m fine. And you look undignified, so please stop crying.”
“You heartless boy! There’s no point in raising sons!”
While Ian and Asillia were having their reunions with their families, only Leo paced anxiously beside Vivian.
While waiting for Belinda to come out, Leo realized anew just how big a mistake he had made.
Each second of waiting for Belinda felt like an hour.
‘Did Lady Belinda feel like this when she was searching for me?’
His insides felt like they were burning up.
Moreover, he was troubled by the fact that the atmosphere among the adults had been ominous when he last saw them.
“It’s okay, Shooting Star. Since Chaser went, Lady Belinda will return safely.”
Though Vivian tried hard to comfort Leo, she was equally restless.
And finally, a bright beam of light appeared at the entrance of the Temple’s Artificial Dungeon.
It was Belinda’s return that Leo had been waiting for so desperately.
“Lady Belinda!”
Leo, who had run energetically toward Belinda, suddenly hesitated and looked up at her.
An unmistakable shadow was cast over Belinda’s face.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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