Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 23

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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 23

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I had boldly declared to Vivian, “I’ll take care of it!” but in truth, eradicating ‘Cecile’s Lullaby’ from the slums was quite a tricky task.

When I played the 【Cecile’s Lullaby】 quest in the game, not only the slums but the entire Kingdom was suffering from ‘Cecile’s Lullaby’.

It was such a large-scale incident that I was able to receive help from many people.

But now, ‘Cecile’s Lullaby’ was just beginning to spread through the slums. I had to solve it entirely on my own.

I examined the cards I held in my hand.

The formula for ‘Cecile’s Lullaby’ that Vivian had told me.

The location of the warehouse where Bruno stored ‘Cecile’s Lullaby’.

‘And the information I learned through the game, I suppose.’

At first, I thought about using my authority to mobilize the guards. But I lacked justification.

He hadn’t used any herbs banned by the state, and Bruno was a mage affiliated with the Magic Tower.

No matter how powerful the guards were, touching a Magic Tower mage without solid evidence would require taking enormous risks.

If handled poorly, it could escalate into an international issue with the Mage Republic where the Magic Tower was located.

Even if Bruno’s involvement as the mastermind was revealed, the Magic Tower had extraterritorial rights, making it difficult to impose proper punishment.

Moreover, the slums were a lawless zone governed not by Kingdom law but by underworld law.

The guards wouldn’t be eager to step forward.

‘Internal whistleblowing to the Magic Tower wouldn’t be the answer either.’

Blood is thicker than water, after all.

In the end, the only remaining method was to eliminate all the stock stored in Bruno’s warehouse to prevent the drug from spreading further through the slums.

Fortunately, I could easily think of the right people for that job.

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend, as they say.”

Those who currently held the greatest malice toward Bruno.

It wasn’t Vivian, nor the Temple that was on bad terms with the Magic Tower.

It was none other than the two forces that ruled the slums.

The ‘Sewer Rats’ who monitored the slums’ order with vast information networks, and the ‘Strays’ who protected the slums’ order with ruthless violence.

No one would want to tear Bruno apart more than they would.

An outsider had disrupted the slums’ order that had been maintained for hundreds of years.

Among them, the leader of the Sewer Rats would die from poisoning in the early stages of ‘Cecile’s Lullaby’ distribution.

The Sewer Rats quickly collapsed after losing their leader, and the Strays, having lost the Sewer Rats, transformed into a mere violent gang that only filled their own bellies.

Thus, the slums, having lost their rulers, would helplessly succumb to ‘Cecile’s Lullaby’.

‘The Sewer Rats must be red-eyed with rage, searching for the culprit right now.’

Normally, finding a Sewer Rat executive would be impossible even for a king.

Even I, who had thoroughly studied almost every ending of 【Hirome】, couldn’t know who the current Sewer Rat executives were, but I could obtain clues to find them.

Ending Number 23, One Who Becomes Darkness Darker Than Dark.

As you could tell from this chuunibyou-esque name, it was an ending where the protagonist actually became the leader of the underworld.

It was quite challenging to achieve because you had to rebuild the collapsed Sewer Rats and put leashes on the Strays who had lost control.

Fortunately, there was one ally who helped the protagonist become the underworld leader in every way possible.

Jerry, the only survivor among the Sewer Rat executives and someone searching for a new king to restore order to the collapsed slums.

According to him…

“How the previous Sewer Rats gathered information on nobles?”

“Just… we ran a normal family business. With my mother and father, and my crazy sister who foams at the mouth.”

“Though I was called an executive, in reality I just supported my exceptionally intelligent father.”

A profession where you could overhear gossip carelessly dropped by nobles up close, freely enter and exit noble manors, and even examine their bodies without arousing suspicion.

A tailor shop was the perfect cover for gathering information on nobles.

Using Jerry’s words as a hint, I summoned all the tailor shops that the Sewer Rats might be operating.

“Contact the tailor shops I’m about to mention. I need to have clothes fitted immediately.”

I deliberately leaked information in front of those I had summoned, and the Sewer Rats took the bait I had scattered.

When the information about Merilyn’s husband being sick also aligned, my suspicion became certainty.

Terry, the Sewer Rat executive I faced this way, was honestly quite terrifying.

Especially when I recalled the look on her face when I mentioned the name Cecil…

‘That must be what they call clear-eyed madness.’

I subtly hid behind Penandel’s back as I answered Terry’s question about how I knew she was a Sewer Rat.

“You’re underestimating the Blanche Family’s intelligence network.”

This time, Terry spoke instead of Penandel.

“We clearly know that the Blanche Family are idiots who buy silver with gold to earn 1 silver, yet you speak as if you have some great intelligence network.”

Wow, she’s going straight for the jugular.

It was true that Blanche descendants couldn’t earn a single penny with their own hands and lived by sucking the sweet nectar from one ancestor’s achievements.

I tried to act otherwise, but being hit right on target made an awkward smile that trembled at the corners of my mouth.

But Belinda was someone whose pride dominated her body. To others, it probably looked like an incredibly arrogant smile, right?

“So the Sewer Rats’ intelligence network is only at that level. Just because you couldn’t uncover something doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist at all. As proof of that…”

I deliberately paused for a beat, then continued.

“I’m trying to provide information that even the Sewer Rats don’t know. For example, how about the warehouse where ‘Cecile’s Lullaby’ is stored, or an antidote that can cure poisoned people.”

At my words, Terry’s consistently sarcastic expression quietly settled.

Her quiet anger was chillingly cold, but I had Penandel as a human shield.

“Are you saying I should interpret that as Miss Belinda admitting to being the culprit who manufactured and distributed ‘Cecile’s Lullaby’? Or rather, how can I trust that information is even true?”

“Someone who deals in information leaves the weight of truth and falsehood to others? Why should I prove my innocence? That’s your job.”

To Terry, who seemed at a loss for words, I gave a final cold warning.

“See for yourself with your own eyes. I’ll collect payment for your earlier rudeness and the information later.”

Outside, dawn was already breaking dimly.

Even the dawn when college entrance exam scores were announced didn’t feel this long.

Completely drained, I slumped in my chair regardless of appearances, closed my eyes, and organized my thoughts.

‘Vivian is making the antidote, so it should be completed soon.’

But the real problem was how to get the antidote to the slum people who didn’t even know they were poisoned.

Fortunately, the method was surprisingly simple.

Actually, it was a method that didn’t even require an antidote, but I had asked Vivian to make one because I had another use for it.

‘Based on what Jerry said, the father—that is, Madam Merilyn’s husband—must be the leader of the Sewer Rats.’

Fortunately, he seemed to still be alive.

If I gave him an antidote to cure him, I could gain the Sewer Rats’ trust.

As the tension left my body, a belated headache set in.

It was because I had kept my nerves on edge all night in Belinda’s body, which wasn’t particularly healthy to begin with.

Ah, it felt like my eyes were getting feverish too.

To think my physical condition would deteriorate this much from staying up one night.

Maybe Belinda’s prickly and nasty temperament was partly due to her weak constitution.

“Penandel, are you there?”

“Yes.”

“My eyes feel feverish. Bring me a cold, wet cloth.”

Even at my quietly murmured words, I didn’t feel any sign of Penandel moving.

Was I working him too hard in the middle of the night?

Just as I was about to say never mind out of embarrassment.

A large, ice-cold hand carefully covered my eyes.

“Mmh.”

Startled by the temperature, I let out a soft moan, and Penandel’s hand also trembled and pulled away, then covered my eyes again with appropriate pressure.

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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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