Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 187

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 187

Giuseppe wants the eradication of the dark magic organization.

And what Chaser is pursuing is the Red Mage Tower Master, a wanted criminal from the Mage Republic who belongs to the dark magic organization.

At first glance, it seems like they’re chasing the same enemy, but.

“The Red Mage Tower Master must be captured by the Magic Tower. That old man knows so much that it would be troublesome if he falls into the Temple’s hands.”

The two weren’t cooperating—they were competing.

Here, it would be much more efficient to join hands, share the information they each know, and cooperate, but both Giuseppe and Chaser acted as if they didn’t know the word cooperation.

It meant the emotional rift between the two nations had grown as tenacious and deep-rooted as overgrown weeds.

‘Politics is problematic for this very reason.’

Because of that damn pride, they pretend not to see the shortcut leading to their destination.

I experienced this sickeningly at the Nobility Council meetings too.

Fortunately, I knew a more efficient way to solve this problem. Both forces had ‘me’ as a stepping stone, didn’t they?

I leisurely tilted my teacup and asked back.

“The Red Mage Tower Master wants immortality?”

“Yeah, that’s exactly why that crazy old man fell into dark magic. Even though it’s dark magic, I thought it would be impossible, but it’s not necessarily so. That old man has rejuvenated.”

I firmly embedded the information Chaser had brought into my mind.

[Red Mage Tower Master became a dark mage wanting immortality.

Currently possesses the appearance of an eight-year-old child through time regression dark magic.]

How much time had I spent with Chaser like that?

I caught a glimpse of Ophelia beyond the balcony railing.

Thanks to participating in Leo’s and my birthday parties every year, Ophelia and Chaser were acquainted, but given their respective positions, they only exchanged simple eye greetings.

But now the priests were glaring at Chaser with fire in their eyes, so I didn’t want to make things unnecessarily complicated.

When I showed signs of tidying up and getting ready to leave, Chaser hurriedly grabbed me.

“Master, are you going to keep staying at the Temple?”

When I nodded without much thought, Chaser completely erased his hasty expression and added in a subtle voice.

“I’m staying at a 5-star hotel suite right now.”

“So?”

Unable to understand his intention, I tilted my head once more, and Chaser rested his head on both hands like at our first meeting, smiling brightly as he whispered.

“There are many rooms, the bed is wide, and I’m alone.”

With those words, the noisy balcony instantly became quiet.

“If Master wants, I can give you the suite key anytime.”

The people who had been chatting in small groups, especially the young women, looked back and forth between me and Chaser with deeply flushed faces.

A 5-star hotel suite.

Compared to the Temple dormitory, it would be incredibly comfortable, so honestly, it would be a lie to say I wasn’t tempted…

“I’m staying as an invited guest, so that won’t work. See you next time, Chaser.”

Why Lord Cheri’s sullen face promising not to cause trouble came to mind at that moment, even I don’t know.

* * *

After parting ways using Chaser’s messenger bird as a means of communication.

Returning to the Temple, I was able to hear the future plans from Giuseppe.

“What the Marquess needs to observe isn’t the people of the port city.”

“Then?”

“Was there anyone suspicious among the priests who served as your escort today?”

Among the priests?

I was recalling their faces when I realized something and asked back in surprise.

“Wait. What you just said… are you saying there’s a dark mage inside the Temple?”

“Yes, there’s a traitor within the Temple.”

Giuseppe’s voice was so calm that I thought I had heard wrong.

In a monotone voice, he calmly explained when he started suspecting the traitor’s existence and why he speculated the traitor would be a priest belonging to the Temple in Baliko.

“I see. Now I understand why you need my help.”

They had figured out there was a traitor in the Temple in Baliko, but the problem was how to find the culprit among so many priests.

It wasn’t feasible to call them out one by one and interrogate them with the Eye of Truth.

Moreover, the Temple in Baliko had few high-ranking priests but was larger in scale than the Grand Temple, so it had a great many affiliated priests.

That’s why Giuseppe had asked for my help to handle the matter quietly.

I updated the information about those bastards in my mind.

[Total of six members.

One of them is the Red Mage Tower Master, and another is likely a priest belonging to Baliko Temple.]

While organizing my thoughts, I was casually reaching for the teapot to pour more tea.

Giuseppe must have had the same idea, as he reached for the teapot too, and our fingertips nearly collided.

I was startled and quickly withdrew my hand.

I had seen in the First King’s memories that the power of Insight required skin contact to see a person’s past.

I knew our hands hadn’t touched, but I couldn’t help being suspicious.

I frowned menacingly and asked in a threatening tone.

“Did you just use your power to read my past?”

Giuseppe, who had frozen with his hand on the teapot, answered with a somewhat awkward expression.

“I don’t abuse my power so carelessly.”

“That’s strange. I know the High Priest stole glimpses of my past without permission from our first meeting.”

“That was…”

Perhaps feeling guilty himself, Giuseppe couldn’t continue speaking for a while.

After a moment, while pouring tea into my cup, Giuseppe calmly admitted his wrongdoing.

“Since the sacred relic had been stolen, I used the power of Insight on anyone who seemed suspicious. I apologize for my rudeness.”

Despite being incredibly stubborn about his beliefs, he surprisingly apologizes easily.

‘Like with the Siren Dungeon incident last time.’

But when it came to Giuseppe, I held grudges for a very long time.

“Fine. That was a special situation, so I’ll understand. But regardless of the apology, I won’t drink this tea anymore.”

I pushed the teacup away and said spitefully.

“Something dirty got on it.”

“…”

Perhaps he remembered how I had said something dirty had gotten on me right after he blessed me at our first meeting, as he said nothing.

However, his feelings seemed hurt as his brow furrowed slightly for the first time.

Thanks to that, my mood became quite refreshed.

* * *

The fourth day since arriving at the port city of Baliko.

Contrary to my expectation that we’d quickly find the culprit once we knew there was a dark mage among the priests, days passed without any gains.

Moreover, in late summer, typhoons were frequent due to ocean currents, so ships often couldn’t sail.

When that happened, countless people who missed their ship passage would stay in Baliko, making the city’s population density very high at this time, with people packed everywhere to the point of chaos.

‘It’s like finding a needle in a desert.’

I shook my head in dismay at the countless crowds visiting the Temple to pray for the typhoon to stop.

The city center would probably be even worse than this.

I didn’t have the energy to go out, so I was lingering around the Temple entrance when.

【Bel! Shit lump spotted!】

Suga, who had been flashing eagle eyes with both eyes bloodshot red, finally caught prey.

I composed my expression without showing any panic.

Unlike Suga who flew freely above people’s heads, there were too many obstacles in my line of sight.

“What do they look like?”

When I asked anxiously, Suga answered excitedly.

【They look like a human!】

“More details!”

【They’re wearing something weird on their head! It smells absolutely terrible!】

Suga, being a fairy, couldn’t distinguish human features in detail.

Having barely figured out that the gender was female, I quickened my pace and pushed through the crowd toward where Suga was pointing.

And finally.

【This human! Suga’s 100 gold!】

Suga spun in circles above someone’s head, announcing her victory.

I carefully memorized the person’s facial features, then quietly turned away.

“Good job, Suga.”

【If you want to praise Suga, give me gold coins!】

I barely managed to appease Suga, who was immediately demanding gold coins, and quickly went to find Giuseppe.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————