Don’t Look for the Resurrected Villainess - Chapter 109

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

Chapter 109

 

The mouse trembled as it looked at Bak, but still managed to relay Minte’s message.

 

The main content was that they had finally identified a likely location for the key. While they had thought it might be in some palace basement or storehouse, the place Minte had discovered was the Imperial Crypt, where only specific members of the royal family could be buried.

 

The royal crypts were located in three different areas, and among them, the cemetery closest to the Imperial Palace was a sacred place that housed only the most excellent and great ancestors.

 

“Really, that place?”

 

[Y-yes!]

 

“So where is Minte now? Why didn’t he come directly?”

 

[He got caught by the gravedigger…]

 

Before the mouse could finish speaking, Bak grabbed the cage bars with both hands.

 

[What? Minte got caught! Is he imprisoned!]

 

[He’s, he’s being loved.]

 

“…Huh?”

 

[The gravedigger keeps bathing him, grooming his fur, feeding him, and staring at him constantly, so he couldn’t come directly!]

 

Oh my, it seems he’s getting through another crisis by acting cute.

 

[Grr, giving love to Minte. Those lucky humans!]

 

Bak crouched in frustration in the corner of his cage. Looking at him somewhat pitifully, I told the mouse I understood and sent it back.

 

[To Minte…]

 

To give the drooping Bak some alone time, I also got up.

 

Instead of dwelling on Heinrih’s words for no reason, I should think about how to get into the crypt.

 

* * *

 

Despite showing the Crown Prince’s Palace roof flying off in front of numerous guests, the Emperor stubbornly declared he would resume the banquet.

 

The motivation for holding the banquet, which was supposedly to thank the Reviver, had somehow transformed into protecting the Imperial House’s pride.

 

So this time I used insects.

 

A swarm of locusts suddenly attacked the Imperial Dining Hall, causing chaos among the startled palace servants, turning the ingredients into a complete mess, and forcing the banquet to be postponed again. Only then did the Emperor request a private audience with me.

 

The fact that the private meeting took place in the Emperor’s Private Chamber showed treatment that was completely different from when I first came to the Imperial Palace.

 

Not only were elaborate refreshments prepared, but I was seated in a position facing the Emperor directly.

 

“Does the Princess truly have a solution?”

 

The Emperor’s face looked considerably worse. He seemed to have no energy left to hide his fatigue, rubbing his eyes and sighing.

 

“It’s difficult to call it a solution, but if it’s related to the strange phenomena occurring within the palace, there are some parts I can guess at.”

 

“What would that be?”

 

“But it seems my words only cause unnecessary trouble.”

 

When I hesitated, drawing out my words, the Emperor frowned.

 

“Do you mean evil energy? I want to hear more about that.”

 

Somehow, the Countess of Penderon’s face seemed to overlap with the Emperor’s.

 

I know that look in his eyes. Those are definitely the eyes of a fanatic. No doubt about it.

 

“In my opinion, I believe you have brought in something that shouldn’t have been brought in. Whether it’s a person or an object.”

 

“What does the Creator say it is?”

 

“The Creator did not specify what it was. However, I dare to guess that there might be something in the Imperial Palace that doesn’t belong here.”

 

The Emperor’s eyes flashed darkly.

 

“If it’s a person… would expelling that person solve it?”

 

From his expression, it looks like he’s planning to bury them completely rather than just expel them.

 

“Do you have someone in mind?”

 

“There’s Lilia Roam. The Princess would know better than anyone how she entered this palace.”

 

“Ah.”

 

I almost burst into loud laughter, but managed to hold it back by biting the inside of my mouth hard.

 

Seeing how Lilia’s name popped out immediately, it seems she’s lost quite a bit of trust in high society recently. Or perhaps the Emperor has such a disposition that he easily discards people.

 

Either way, it was amusing.

 

As I fell silent for a moment to compose my emotions, the Emperor couldn’t stand that brief pause and spoke urgently.

 

“If she’s truly the culprit behind these ominous incidents, would cutting ties with her resolve things?”

 

Is he planning to break off Maxel and Lilia’s engagement?

 

If he unilaterally pushes for a broken engagement after being swayed by such ridiculous agitation, Roam would feel insulted too, which would be quite a sight to see.

 

However, since what I wanted wasn’t just expelling Lilia alone, I calmly shook my head.

 

“It’s difficult to guarantee.”

 

When I made a statement that seemed to protect Lilia, the Emperor raised his eyebrows. He seemed to expect me to immediately show delight and say Lilia should be expelled.

 

But I don’t just dislike Lilia alone.

 

“Lilia is already deeply connected to His Highness the Crown Prince through fate. How can I guarantee she hasn’t been influenced? In such an uncertain situation, I’m cautious about adding my words.”

 

If you’re going to expel someone, you should involve that guy and get rid of them together. Where do you get off trying to protect only Maxel?

 

“At the banquet hall, the Princess also said that Heinrih was least tainted by impure energy.”

 

“I understand that Prince Heinley has spent recent years quietly in his own palace without activity. So the current result is natural.”

 

“Does the Princess mean that Heinrih is better than Maxel?”

 

That wasn’t simply asking about their energy. The Emperor wanted to confirm whether Maxel had truly been abandoned by the Creator.

 

“I am the Creator’s Reviver. Imperial succession is not a matter for me to discuss.”

 

If I carelessly said I supported Heinrih, the Emperor would rather be displeased.

 

Even if he nods now because he’s urgent, once he regains his reason later, it would seem like I’m trying to control the Imperial House. He’d also recall my past.

 

The Emperor was an arrogant and ambitious opponent. He was the type who would rebel if ordered around. So it was better for me to consistently claim ignorance.

 

Glancing at the Emperor’s thoughtful face, I pretended not to notice and changed the subject.

 

“More importantly, I should leave soon too. We can’t keep Dura’han in the Imperial Palace forever.”

 

When I subtly brought this up, the Emperor jumped and became serious.

 

“What if monsters appear again after the Princess leaves!”

 

“Well, the Imperial Palace’s excellent knights and mages will handle them well.”

 

The Emperor found no comfort in my words. Rather, he seemed to recall the wyvern that had broken the roof and escaped.

 

Of course, that’s why I brought it up.

 

“We haven’t even properly presented a banquet for the Princess yet, so this won’t do, even out of regret.”

 

“I’ll accept the sentiment.”

 

“Perhaps the pavilion wasn’t to your liking?”

 

“No. It’s sufficient.”

 

“Were the palace servants inadequate?”

 

“That’s not it either.”

 

“I’ll open the royal treasury for you.”

 

“I’m not interested.”

 

At my ironclad responses, the Emperor seemed slightly irritated. Glancing at his expression, I pretended to be generous and spoke up.

 

“You seem very anxious, so I was thinking of offering a small blessing prayer before I leave. Would that be alright?”

 

“A blessing prayer?”

 

“Yes. I’ll offer a prayer seeking the Creator’s blessing in a precious place.”

 

“A precious place…”

 

The Emperor couldn’t readily think of any particular location.

 

I paused for a moment, then lightly exclaimed as if I had just thought of it.

 

“Ah, the Imperial Crypt would be good. If I pray there, the Creator will be moved by that devotion and the great ancestors will protect this Imperial House.”

 

If Samuel saw me now, he’d probably treat me like a cult leader again, wouldn’t he?

 

“Would that work?”

 

The Emperor showed no suspicion whatsoever about my proposal. I guess I really do have talent for this.

 

“The Imperial Crypt is a sacred place, so that alone would be sufficient. But would it be alright for me to enter that place?”

 

Perhaps because it was where past Imperial dignitaries were buried, the Emperor looked quite troubled.

 

However, he considered the immediate crisis facing the Imperial Palace more important than the great ancestors of the past.

 

“I give permission.”

 

“Yes, then I’ll hurry to prepare as well.”

 

Having readily nodded, I added in a calm tone.

 

“Since there might be defilement, please absolutely keep His Highness the Crown Prince away from the area. Every time I see him, he keeps saying strange things, so the Creator has become very angry.”

 

The Emperor nodded with a miserable expression.

 

…I should leave quickly before I burst into laughter.

 

* * *

 

With a light heart, I emerged from the Emperor’s Private Chamber and leisurely made my way out of the Imperial Palace.

 

Since I had come to meet the Emperor, I was inevitably accompanied by several palace servants who followed behind me at a distance.

 

I would have liked to shake off those servants too, but doing so might cause unnecessary misunderstandings, so I decided against it.

 

Now that I had learned the location of the key, and my departure from this Imperial Palace wasn’t far off, I just needed to endure a little longer.

 

However, I had to stop before I could go much further.

 

“My apologies, this path is temporarily blocked due to pest control work. I’m sorry, but could you please go around that way?”

 

Oh my, it seems everyone was quite shocked by the swarm of locusts that raided the restaurant.

 

They might look a bit disgusting, but they were actually quite enthusiastic and good-natured creatures.

 

Though, they were a bit gluttonous.

 

“Alright, keep up the good work.”

 

Behind the attendant who blocked my path, I could see workers diligently spraying pesticide.

 

Feeling pity for their futile efforts, I turned my steps. With the fastest route to the pavilion blocked, I had to go around the back of the Imperial Palace.

 

Walking along the path would be too far, so I decided to cut across the garden. It was the garden behind the Imperial Palace. And in that garden was a beautiful artificial pond.

 

The very pond I had fallen into.

 

‘I didn’t really want to come here, but I have no choice.’

 

With reluctant feelings, I stepped into the garden. The garden trees were tall, so first-time visitors often got lost, but I could cross the garden all too easily.

 

Before long, I reached the center where the Imperial Palace pond was located.

 

The pond was still beautiful. The fountain in the center of the pond remained the same. I could see streams of water shooting up refreshingly into the air, sparkling as they fell back to the surface.

 

I unconsciously stopped walking and quietly gazed at the fountain, then lowered my gaze to the pond. I could see plump carp swimming leisurely in the clear water.

 

It was beautiful to look at, but there was a fishy smell.

 

It was the same on the day I fell into this place. Even on that day when I was soaked from head to toe, the terrible fishy smell had tormented me.

 

I remember how no matter how much fine fragrant oil I used to wash, the fishy smell wouldn’t go away.

 

‘I recalled an unnecessary memory.’

 

This is why I didn’t want to come here.

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