Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 190
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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 190
Chaser’s words served as a wake-up call. At the same time, they showed just how tricky solving this problem would be.
First, there was far too little information. While we had learned the black magic society’s objective, we couldn’t even guess at the methods or processes they would use to achieve it.
Moreover, they had hidden themselves like rabbits that had disappeared into their burrows.
‘There’s no way the marquess would agree to evacuate people at this point.’
Baliko was a massive cog responsible for the western economy.
It was hard to be optimistic that the western people, who stubbornly held their ground even against the annual typhoons that swept over the city, would empty the city based on my words without any evidence.
‘As expected, finding those bastards and neutralizing them is the most reliable method.’
However, if they knew about Suga through the temple’s traitor, they wouldn’t try to move carelessly before the day of execution.
So for now…
“Master should return to the royal capital.”
“I’ll return to the royal capital.”
Chaser and I, who had spoken simultaneously, looked at each other and smiled wryly. It seemed we had the same thought.
If we couldn’t find the nest where the prey was hiding, we just had to make them come out on their own.
What those bastards were most wary of right now was my existence, which could see through their true identity.
That’s why I needed to return to the royal capital. So they could let their guard down and slowly creep out.
Chaser seemed to have the same thought as me, but his plan probably wasn’t completely identical to mine.
Because the option of cooperating with the temple wouldn’t be in Chaser’s mind.
Indeed, my guess was correct, as Chaser’s pretty face twisted terribly when he heard the detailed plan.
“Ugh.”
Chaser evaluated my plan with a brief exclamation.
His face truly looked horrified, but he probably knew it too.
That this time, we had to forget past grudges and cooperate with the temple.
* * *
“Ophelia, I’ll be heading back now.”
The evening of the day Giuseppe was injured.
Ophelia’s face, seeing off the departing Belinda, was tinged red with the spreading sunset.
“I’m sorry I can’t see you off further.”
“What do you mean see me off? I’m the one who’s sorry for not being able to stay with you until the end.”
After Belinda shared a light embrace with Ophelia, she boarded the carriage.
The carriage carrying Belinda didn’t stop until it reached the city walls on the outskirts and passed through the travel checkpoint.
A hawk that had been watching all these movements while circling the night sky soon flapped its wings vigorously toward the port city.
As the hawk that entered the city flapped its wings, a rotten smell wafted through the air and feathers fell off in clumps.
Eventually, the hawk that arrived at an abandoned house in a deserted alley dove without hesitation toward a full-length mirror left in one corner.
Like diving into water, the hawk passed through the mirror’s surface and returned to its base, perching on a roost and rubbing its head against its master.
Seeing the hawk’s feathers fall out unsightly even from that small gesture, the Red Mage Tower Master chuckled.
“Oh my, how pitiful. It seems to have long passed its time to die. How about putting it out of its misery? The rotting flesh is giving off a foul smell.”
The hawk’s master didn’t even look at the Red Mage Tower Master as if he wasn’t worth responding to.
He simply used the life of another prepared hawk as payment to restore his old friend’s decaying body.
The revitalized hawk cried briefly twice to indicate it had completed its master’s orders.
“That woman has left the city.”
At the hawk master’s words, relief appeared on the faces of those gathered around the round table.
“Then we can move now, can’t we?”
“The Ascetic seems to think so too.”
The Red Mage Tower Master wrapped magic around his finger and showed everyone the contents of a note placed in the center of the round table.
It contained a rough map of the temple and the location of the room where Giuseppe was currently staying. Everyone understood the meaning at once.
The group’s gaze briefly turned to an empty seat at the round table. After a moment of silence, someone spoke up.
“Since the High Priest has been neutralized, this is an unprecedented opportunity. The Ascetic has always considered him a thorn in his side.”
“That’s not all. Currently, he’s the only one in this kingdom who can use the Eye of Truth, so if we eliminate him now, they won’t be able to hold a Sacred Tribunal for a while.”
As the atmosphere gradually heated up, a comment from the Red Mage Tower Master shifted the mood.
“This old man won’t participate.”
Then everyone’s attention focused on the Red Mage Tower Master.
Though their gazes held hostility, the Red Mage Tower Master continued speaking as if giving advice, paying no mind.
“Unlike you all who worship the Ascetic for granting your wishes, to this old man, the Ascetic is merely a business partner. So I don’t need to follow every command the Ascetic gives. As far as this old man remembers, I never made such an unreasonable deal.”
“I hope you don’t forget that we’re working to fulfill that disgusting wish to repay our debt to the Ascetic.”
Even at words that were almost like a threat, the Red Mage Tower Master laughed leisurely.
“That’s contradictory. You say you’ll be loyal to the Ascetic, yet you’re ignoring the Ascetic’s command to help fulfill my wish?”
Though frustrated, no one could refute those words. The Red Mage Tower Master stood up as if he had finished what he wanted to say.
“Well then, I hope you all do your best to make my wish come true, heh heh heh.”
Hostile gazes pierced the tower master’s small back, but during the time he left the round table, not one person stopped him.
Finally, after the Red Mage Tower Master’s presence had completely disappeared.
“If that bastard gains the power of immortality, we won’t be able to do anything about it. What on earth is the Ascetic thinking…”
Someone muttered like a sigh, apparently quite bitter, and people affirmed with silence.
Then, a man who had been focused solely on tending to the hawk picked up the map placed on the round table.
“Since one terrorist attack has occurred, the temple’s security will be tight. If anyone can draw the priests’ attention, I’ll finish this job.”
When everyone agreed without particular objection, the man holding the map disappeared as if melting into the darkness.
* * *
Deep in the night.
The lights of the temple built on the high ground began to turn on one by one, and then the entire temple became bright as if there was a fire.
“Those who have been in contact with infected people, please come this way!”
“Treatment will proceed over here! Don’t be afraid and please follow our instructions!”
The priests were frantic trying to accommodate patients who had suddenly appeared like a bolt from the blue.
The origin of all events began with a ship that had docked late in the evening.
A sailor unloading cargo from the ship discovered a cargo box with unknown sender and recipient.
The moment the sailors opened the thick wooden box to find the cargo’s owner, an ominous purple light flashed and then acrid smoke rose up.
The sailors who had inhaled a lot of smoke coughed until their eyes watered and looked inside the box.
However, it was completely empty as if nothing had been inside from the beginning.
The sailors thought lightly that something like gunpowder had been blown away by the wind.
That was until something like a highly contagious plague spread, centered on the sailors who had opened the cargo.
The number of infected people increased exponentially, and eventually the temple had no choice but to step in to prevent further infection.
At the center of the group leading the priests and dividing infected and non-infected people for treatment was Ophelia.
While all the priests had left their dormitory and were fighting the epidemic.
Someone secretly entered the temple interior, taking advantage of the commotion. He stepped forward without hesitation, not even making the sound of footsteps.
Finally, the shadow that stood before the intended door checked for signs inside. The room was quiet.
When the intruder twisted the door handle open, he could see the target lying on the bed as if dead.
The man skillfully drew out a sharp blade and headed toward the bed.
“I never thought I’d return to my old profession like this.”
The man muttered self-deprecatingly, but contrary to his words, there was no hesitation in the hand that wielded the blade.
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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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