Because She Had A Time Limit, She Became The Villain’s Daughter-in-law - Chapter 56

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I paused for a moment to remind myself where exactly I had possessed into.
World conquest? Had I really possessed into some kind of hero movie? Or worse—had some strange entity possessed Sven instead?
“You are the one who can fulfill our deepest wish, Laria.”
“Deepest wish?”
“Yes. To put it plainly… please become our master.”
I’d prepared myself not to be shocked by anything, but at the word ‘master,’ I nearly jumped to my feet.
Wait, what on earth are you saying?
“You’re asking me to become the master of the Bestian Dark Information Guild?”
Seeing my bewildered expression, Serena quickly interjected.
“Laria, please hear me out completely. It’s not as grand as it sounds. We’re not asking you to serve as guild master like Sven does.”
“Then what are you asking?”
“To share a common goal with us… to work behind the scenes, unseen by the world…”
“Hmm?”
“…In other words, we’re asking you to be the hidden mastermind!”
My jaw dropped. As if stealing the male lead’s role wasn’t enough, now they wanted me to steal the father-in-law’s role too?
As I shook my head in refusal, Serena suddenly grabbed my hand.
“You’re perfect for this, Laria! Your aptitude truly matches it completely!”
“No, why would my aptitude be for being a mastermind? My aptitude is acting!”
“That’s exactly why it’s perfect!”
Serena spoke with conviction.
“And isn’t this exactly the position you wanted for pacifying the southwestern social circle? Putting someone else in front while you actually orchestrate everything… it’s truly perfect!”
Since I had indeed mentioned to Serena my plan to put Kait in the foreground, I couldn’t really argue against it.
“You act well, you’re different on the outside than inside, you’re somewhat… cunning, and you seem to have a bit of greed too…”
“I see, Serena. Thank you so much.”
I narrowed my eyes as I spoke.
“I really appreciate that objective and honest assessment of me.”
“N-no, it was a compliment! I meant it as praise for how delightfully base you are!”
Leaving Serena’s flustered expression behind, I returned to the main topic.
“You wouldn’t use reasons like that alone to call me ‘master’ when I’m still young. There must be other factors at play, right?”
“You’re as sharp as ever.”
“First, let’s discuss that word ‘world conquest.’ What exactly does that mean? Are you trying to make me a general and start a war?”
“Before I explain in tedious detail…”
Sven spoke in a low voice.
“Allow me to introduce Neo first.”
Wondering if there was yet another person, I glanced around, and Serena spoke gently.
“Neo is right here.”
“Meow.”
…
How was I supposed to interpret this situation where they were using honorifics and formal speech toward a cat?
Seeing my bewildered expression, Sven spoke.
“You are the incarnation of a demon.”
“…What did you just say?”
“Though he appears to be an ordinary black cat, he is a demon who has created rifts in this world through black magic.”
Black magic—the very words sent an ominous chill through me.
“He came to this world through a contract with someone.”
Sven continued his explanation.
“We wish to live in a world where black magic exists. We want to witness its greatness with our own eyes.”
Yet despite everything, the common sense of my childhood spilled from my lips.
“That’s impossible.”
I spoke firmly.
“Black magic is fundamentally wrong to exist in this world. Stop this nonsense and abandon this idea. Besides, black magic that hasn’t been properly authorized by the Royal Court is illegal everywhere except the Magic Tower.”
“It does exist.”
Sven pointed to Neo as he spoke.
“The proof is right here. Neo, I apologize, but please show Laria the power of the demon.”
Neo, who had been sitting on my lap, slowly blinked his eyes. Then he leaped up and…
Wait, he leaped?
“Eek!”
Neo walked gracefully through the air.
“This… this can’t be real!”
All magic in this world adhered to objects.
Black magic was a collective term for magic that affected living beings. Therefore, an ordinary cat performing actions beyond common sense was simply impossible.
Especially levitating through the air of his own free will—that was something only a true demon could accomplish…
“Meow.”
The cat looked down at me from the air as if mocking me.
That was when it happened.
―Hello, little one. How nice to see you!
A strange voice echoed from somewhere.
“W-what, what, what?”
By pure instinct, I knew the voice was coming from Neo, the cat before my eyes.
―Your energy alone isn’t enough to sustain a long conversation.
I was utterly shocked.
A demon? And in the form of a cat, no less!
“E-energy? What… what kind of energy are you talking about?”
I managed to respond, but I couldn’t accept what was happening. A talking cat… and it was a demon… how could such a thing even exist…?
Panic-stricken, I could only stare blankly at Neo.
―But since I’m happy to see you, I’ll give you a small gift.
Though deeply shocked, the word “gift” snapped me back to attention instantly. I answered quickly and precisely.
“It doesn’t have to be small. A big gift would be nice too.”
My desperate greed overcame my bewilderment.
Neo raised his front paw and placed it on my forehead.
―I’ll place a protective barrier around your mind.
“My mental fortitude is fine—couldn’t you do something material instead?”
―No more complaints. Accept it, little one. You are precious to me….
The voice faded into the distance once more.
“Why did you cut off mid-sentence! How frustrating!”
“Meow.”
I grabbed Neo and shouted, but he simply meowed like an ordinary cat.
“Laria?”
Sven regarded me with careful concern.
“Did you just… communicate with Neo?”
“Does he usually talk? How do I get him to say more?”
Sven and Serena exchanged glances simultaneously.
“…We’ve never heard Neo speak before. What exactly did he say?”
Their eyes brimmed with anticipation.
“He, he said he was pleased to meet me….”
I couldn’t quite bring myself to mention that this tiny cat had called me “little one,” so I glossed over it vaguely.
“I knew it!”
“Unbelievable!”
Sven and Serena exclaimed in unison, and I deliberately avoided their hopeful gazes.
“S, s, still though.”
I turned away from the demon before me and shook my head desperately.
“There’s a reason black magic is forbidden for ordinary people. It’s magic that shakes the very foundation of the world itself—it defies natural order.”
I added shamelessly, having just accepted the demon’s gift without hesitation.
“I feel uncomfortable about it and don’t want to get entangled in such things.”
“But….”
“Besides, even the Imperial Palace strictly prohibits it. If discovered, immediate imprisonment awaits. I don’t wish to cooperate with such matters.”
“However, you are someone Neo has chosen. You’re not an ordinary person.”
“Why me, exactly?”
“I’m not certain. Perhaps you have some connection to black magic, or perhaps you possess the aptitude to become a black mage.”
Sven slowly lifted Neo from my lap and placed him back upon his own shoulders.
“According to our investigation, you have no entanglement with black magic, so perhaps you are someone capable of becoming a black mage.”
From my own recollection, I had no connection to black magic whatsoever.
“I don’t even know much about black magic.”
Regardless, I was beginning to understand why Sven needed me—he wanted to research black magic.
There were two methods of using black magic.
1. A black mage uses black magic. This is only permitted for research purposes within the Magic Tower. Outside of that, its use is illegal, so most black mages hide their identities and practice in secret.
2. An ordinary person summons a demon to use black magic. This can only be done at the Imperial Palace Altar with the consent of the Nobility and permission from the Royal Court.
“Of course, black magic is difficult to approach. I understand your reluctance.”
Sven stroked his chin as he spoke.
“But it’s an extraordinarily fascinating field. It means transcending human limitations. Laria, aren’t you drawn to it?”
“I’m not interested.”
“You could manipulate this world from the shadows. You could become the queen behind the scenes.”
“Sorry, but I hate feeling uneasy. My own safety is what matters most to me.”
“If you learn to use black magic, even the dead can return to life.”
“That certainly goes against the natural order.”
“Since when have you been concerned with the natural order, Laria?”
“Starting from this very moment. A faith I never knew I possessed is welling up inside me now.”
“You haven’t prayed even once all this time.”
“That’s because… ever since I saw the High Priest laughing like a madman at Duke Icard’s jokes, my faith hit rock bottom.”
“Laria.”
Sven spoke urgently.
“Your mother, who passed away in that carriage accident, could also return to life. Don’t you wish to see her?”
I sighed once and answered calmly.
“Well, resurrecting the dead wouldn’t be that simple, would it? If it were, the world would fall into tremendous chaos.”
“Of course it’s not simple.”
Sven spoke earnestly.
“From what I’ve learned, the procedure is quite complex and comes with many restrictions. It’s an extremely difficult black magic that ordinary black mages cannot perform—you must even summon and contract with demons.”
“…”
“So there’s no need to worry about the world falling into chaos. Even resurrecting one person is extraordinarily difficult. The conditions are extremely stringent.”
“You don’t need to explain. I’m not interested anyway—”
“A rift that appears when one unbaptized destroys a sacred relic is necessary.”
I, who had been waving my hand to firmly refuse, suddenly froze.
Wait. What did Sven just say?

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