Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 26

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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 26

“Kyaaaah!”

Thankfully, the timid Vivian screamed enough for both of us.

Meanwhile, Lord Penandel took appropriate measures to prevent the intruder—that is, Terry—from getting any closer to me.

Though pressing a fork to her throat was rather extreme.

Terry, who had arrived unannounced, raised both hands in surrender as if she were used to this.

“Could you hear me out first? I came to report on how I handled the job you commissioned.”

“You expect me to believe that after sneaking in like this?”

“There’s a reason I snuck in, so won’t you listen? If it were me, I’d be too curious to kick someone out without hearing them. If you kick me out now, when you’re lying in bed you’ll think ‘Ah, I should have at least heard what she was trying to say,’ and you won’t be able to sleep all night thinking about it.”

She certainly had a way with words.

When I gestured lightly, Lord Penandel lowered his weapon.

That’s when it happened.

“Hic.”

Leo hiccupped. He seemed quite startled, frozen in the position of about to put a macaron in his mouth.

Leo, who was only moving his eyes to gauge the adults’ mood, hiccupped as he placed the remaining macaron on his plate.

Then he spoke in an innocent voice.

“Um, hic, would you like, hic, a macaron?”

* * *

Second-floor study of the annex.

I looked with displeasure at the macaron crumbs around Terry’s mouth.

To think she’d just accept and eat what a child offered.

“You look rather displeased.”

“Just get to the point briefly.”

“How cold of you.”

Terry made a disappointed face as she rummaged around and pulled out some documents to hand to me.

Inside was a brief but clear account of how Sewer Rat had collaborated with Strays to handle this matter.

The names of those involved were also listed, all with the heavy word “deceased” written next to them.

Except for one person—Bruno.

‘He must have caught wind of it and fled to the Mage Republic.’

Bruno’s outcome was somewhat unsatisfying, but overall it was clean and brutally efficient work befitting the slums.

I nodded with satisfaction.

The quest completion window for 【Cecile’s Lullaby】 didn’t appear immediately.

But I wasn’t particularly worried, thanks to news that the ‘Fanshield’ I had exclusively purchased was selling rapidly.

The moment Vivian’s magic potion replaced Bruno’s remaining magic potions in the slums, the quest would complete automatically.

By then, the patent application for ‘Cecile’s Lullaby’ filed under Vivian’s name would be complete.

Even after ‘Cecile’s Lullaby’ was released to the market, it would be placed under strict surveillance according to patent law to prevent misuse. To ensure that what happened with Bruno would never be repeated.

“So, the report is finished. Now let’s hear your excuse for sneaking in.”

Let’s see how plausibly she can talk her way out of this.

At my words, Terry cleared her throat and spoke in a very serious and heavy voice.

“Don’t be shocked when you hear this, Master.”

Why am I your master?

I raised an eyebrow with a murderous expression, but Terry, bold as she was, didn’t flinch at all.

Instead, she began pouring out words with the neat smile of a seasoned door-to-door salesperson.

“The security of this annex is absolutely terrible! I infiltrated Master’s manor in broad daylight to prove that fact. I found thirty-eight different infiltration routes alone. But Master, don’t worry. There’s a way to keep you safe!”

Wow, what a truly surprising story.

I couldn’t even figure out where to start pointing out the problems.

Fortunately, Lord Penandel spoke for me with a brief but menacing blade-like sound.

Terry, who glanced at Lord Penandel, quickly changed her approach.

“Ah, of course Master’s safety is guaranteed when the knight is by your side. But listen, Sir Knight! What if Master is attacked by an assassin while changing clothes or bathing?”

Why is it a given that I’ll be attacked by an assassin…

Since it wasn’t worth answering, I thought Lord Penandel would ignore her words too.

But surprisingly, he seemed to be seriously considering his response.

I mean, I understand the propriety between men and women, but shouldn’t my life be more important first?

And what followed was a rather pathetic answer, even for Lord Penandel.

“I’ll make the manor impenetrable.”

“How strange. You see, two days ago I had a dream about infiltrating this manor and stealing something from Master’s drawer.”

“…”

“Oh, was it perhaps not a dream?”

Wow, how annoying.

Her sarcasm was truly first-rate.

“Now then, Master. Let me introduce you to a way to protect you from assassin attacks. But first, let me introduce myself—as you know, I’m an executive of Sewer Rat. My specialty is assassination, my hobby is poisoning.”

“…?”

“From a professional assassin’s perspective, Master is exposed to fatal threats. This annex in particular doesn’t even have guards at night. What do you think about this, Master?”

I have no idea what she’s talking about.

More importantly, did she just say her specialty is assassination and her hobby is poisoning?

“As expected, you look very troubled. Since ancient times, they say to treat poison with poison. By the same logic, only an assassin can protect Master’s life from the threat of assassins. Therefore, I’m applying to be the butler of this annex. Here, I brought a letter of recommendation too.”

A letter of recommendation from an assassin.

I was reluctant to open it, but I calmly accepted and read it.

Surprisingly, it contained a detailed record of her being recognized by superiors while working various service and technical jobs.

A perfect experienced newcomer for hiring as a butler…

‘What am I doing right now?’

I almost fell for it.

I threw away the letter of recommendation Terry had given me and looked up at her sideways.

Even knowing she’s an assassin, let’s not be intimidated. I have Lord Penandel, my human bulletproof glass.

“I don’t let rats into my house.”

“Ah, don’t worry about that. I’m no longer with Sewer Rat.”

What’s this about now?

“You might not know, but we Sewer Rats run our business as a family operation. Everyone thinks family companies have messed up hierarchies.”

Terry then protested as if truly wronged.

“But that’s not the case! I got fired. They said I was too reckless, so I should reflect for a few months then come back.”

If you’re fired, you’re fired. Telling someone to reflect and come back—isn’t that exactly the problem with family businesses?

“So I came to find Lady Belinda to repay a debt during this opportunity.”

“Repay a debt?”

“Repaying grudges twofold and favors fourfold is an implicit virtue in this industry. So I came to repay the favor, the debt for the information Master provided.”

She came to repay a favor fourfold.

Terry’s resolve was so heavy it was starting to scare me.

Besides, couldn’t she just repay that favor with money?

As soon as I thought that, as if Terry had seen right through me, she rattled off her words.

“Of course I considered monetary compensation, but Master, you’re a Blanche. Money would be as worthless as pebbles on the roadside to you. After thinking all night, I concluded that protecting Master’s life would be most appropriate.”

“Why is it a given that my life is in danger?”

“It’s no use asking such testing questions. I’m not underestimating Master like last time. You already know that some assassin guilds have shared Master’s personal information, don’t you? That’s why you took a knight from the North as your guard, isn’t it?”

“…”

I don’t know. What’s that about? That’s scary.

My personal information was shared with assassin guilds? Is my life in more danger than I thought?

Thinking I had accepted her proposal since I couldn’t say anything, Terry finally smiled brightly as if satisfied with making a sale.

Then she pulled my hand to her forehead according to noble etiquette and pledged like a knight.

“Until my debt is fully repaid, I swear to protect you more preciously than my own life, as long as Master desires it.”

“….”

“…Master?”

Ah, I don’t know anymore. I opened my mouth almost in resignation.

“I’ll allow it.”

“Thank you.”

And so I ended up hiring an assassin on leave as my butler.

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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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