I'm a Goddess to Be Devoured by the Protagonist - Chapter 13

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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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Chapter 13
I’d known he would make it work.
Leaking information to the Count’s Residence was no simple task—information flowed in constantly without any effort required.
“You could always sell it to me instead. My skin’s been so dull lately,” Bluebird said, running a finger across her cheek with a worried expression before noticing Sirius’s complete lack of response. She feigned disappointment at his unreactive demeanor.

“Just give me one hour.”
Click.
Bluebird set an hourglass on the desk and set a quill dancing across the parchment. Once the parchment was rolled tight and bound with a blue ribbon, it passed into a staff member’s hands.
By the time the sand in the hourglass had nearly run out—
Knock-knock.
The tapping at the door broke the silence that had been filled only by the scratching of a quill.
Guided by staff, a man entered. He swept the interior briefly before spotting Sirius and approached him with a question.
“Are you the one who possesses the Golden Apple?”
I studied his appearance. Beyond the ring on his left ring finger, he wore no other ornaments, yet the clothes draped across him spoke of wealth.
I clamped my lips shut against a cruel laugh that threatened to escape.
He came in person?
This man was Count Peony himself.
He was trying hard to conceal his anxiety, but even watching through the screen, I could see how uneasy he was.
The original plan would have succeeded even with just a servant.
This was a bigger catch than I’d expected.
This was a positive sign.
٩(✧ω✧)و
Even without me sending an emoticon, Sirius would have already figured out who the man was.
Everything that needed doing was already written in the Mission details, so all that remained was to cheer Sirius on.
“Yes, sir.”
When Sirius held up the Golden Apple, the Count’s eyes filled with astonishment.
“How much? I’ll pay handsomely for it.”
The Count spoke hastily, abandoning all aristocratic restraint.
So far so good.
“But first, might I ask you a small favor?”
The Count nodded with a tense expression.
“I visited the Count’s Residence several hours ago.”
The Count’s eyes widened in surprise. If Sirius had sought him out at his residence, he would have no reason to turn back at the gate and seek him out here now.
“But I was forced to turn back at the gate.”
“Why? Did something happen there?”
At the Count’s question, Sirius recounted what had happened to me. His tone was matter-of-fact, as though describing someone else’s affair.
“When the person who sent me learned of this, she was deeply offended.”
Yes, yes. I’ll sell it however I want.
The Count bit nervously at his lower lip, worried that over this matter, the man might refuse to sell the apple to him.
“So this favor you mention…?”
“I wish to apologize to her.”
This plan had been given a name.
‘Apologize, and I’ll sell you the apple.’
The Count’s only real fault was hiring such a man as his Gatekeeper. Faced with such an easy request, the Count relaxed.
“I see. Do you remember what the man looked like?”
“Dark brown hair and green eyes.”
“Ah, I know exactly who you mean. I’ll have him brought here at once.”
The Gatekeeper was delivered with supernatural speed.
His face was ashen, pale as death, as knights practically threw him into the room.
He was on the verge of being dismissed from the position he’d been so proud of.
He might not even find work elsewhere. Many would wonder exactly what he’d done to be cast out from such a prestigious household under such an excellent master as Peony.
The Gatekeeper crawled on all fours to the Count’s feet and threw himself prostrate.
“I’m s-sorry! My lord! I’ve committed a grave offense!”
There was nothing but obsequiousness in his bearing—all the arrogance he’d shown Sirius had vanished without a trace.
“Just once—give me just one more chance! You know how hard I worked to get to where I am!”
Watching this display, I found myself regretting that I wasn’t there in person.
I would have loved to whisper a truth into that man’s ear: that no one cares about that.
I wondered what to do. Maybe I’d ask him to shut his mouth.
But before I could even press the Mission support button, Sirius opened his mouth first.
“Did you perhaps not receive the favor I asked of the Count?”
It was the same tone as always, without a trace of sarcasm, but sufficient to make him realize his mistake.
The Gatekeeper’s head snapped toward Sirius. Only now did he seem to notice his presence.
What Sirius had just said could have easily offended the nobleman—a commoner daring to point out the incompetence of his subordinate.
But I understood his action. The Gatekeeper had simply apologized to the wrong person.
Sirius had asked for an apology, not to watch the Gatekeeper grovel before the Count.
-I see. Allow me to apologize in his stead.
The Count had looked bewildered from the moment the Gatekeeper bowed to him.
He possessed a rarity among the countless fantasy novels featuring truckloads of corrupt nobility—a normal sense of propriety. So the Gatekeeper’s behavior was equally baffling to him.
Realizing from the Count’s apology that he had committed yet another blunder, the Gatekeeper’s face drained of color entirely.
He scrambled toward Sirius with desperate urgency.
-I’m terribly sorry! I was ignorant, so very ignorant!
He knelt before Sirius and begged forgiveness.
Before the very man he had scorned, now abject and humiliated.
Sirius accepted the apology without reaction, merely gazing down at the Gatekeeper with indifference.
As his silence stretched on, the Gatekeeper’s anxiety only deepened.
If the goal was to torment him, it was working.
Had he been upset earlier without showing it?
-Did you perhaps feel an apology was insufficient? the Count asked, keeping his tone as measured as possible.
I wondered too. I had only asked for an apology.
-…….
Sirius did not answer the Count’s question.
Though Sirius was born into a noble house, his current status was that of a commoner. It was unusual for a commoner to ignore a nobleman’s words.
No matter how much the deities here promoted Noblesse Oblige and enacted various systems for the common people—preventing the needless population decline that would occur if every misspoken word brought the executioner’s blade, as in novels featuring terrible tyrants.
[ ( °࿁° )? ]
I sent an emoticon conveying my bewilderment. ‘I know you have thoughts about this, so why won’t you answer?’
Sirius lifted his gaze from the Gatekeeper to check the system window, then lowered his eyes again.
-That will suffice. Thank you for hearing my request.
Clap.
Bluebird began applauding to clear the air.
-So, you are selling the Golden Apple, correct?
-I am.
The Gatekeeper, who had been thrown into the room, was dragged back out.
Honestly, I would have liked to throw a punch at his face, but I didn’t want to order Sirius to do anything of the sort.
The Count’s household would handle things well enough on their own.
-From what I can assess, this object’s fair price would be approximately…….
-No, let’s go with this instead.
The Count added several more zeros to the price Bluebird had suggested.
From Bluebird’s stunned reaction, I could tell it was an enormous sum, though I wasn’t familiar enough with the currency here to fully grasp its weight.
In any case, money wouldn’t be a problem going forward.
Thus the Golden Apple passed into the Count’s hands.
-I’m grateful for selling me such a precious item.
[Mission Success! Reward granted!]
[Bread ×1]
Just as I thought the transaction was wrapping up nicely, the Count seemed to have more to say.
-I’d like to invite you to the Count’s Residence. Would you come? I’d like to provide a meal while settling the payment.
It sounded like an excuse.
He could have sent the payment through a servant, and his gratitude could have been expressed some other way.
Was he trying to keep Sirius from escaping and have his appraiser assess the item once more?
The high reputation of the Blue Feather Trading Company owed much to Bluebird’s Item Appraisal Ability.
Yet the Count was still anxious. For all the wealth he possessed, he’d tried everything without success.
It’s difficult to trust an adventurer you’ve only just met. I also suspected there were no shortage of con artists among adventurers.
No matter how good a person the Count might be, he wouldn’t extend clemency to someone who had mocked his desperation.
-I shall accept.
Sirius agreed without hesitation. Not from ignorance of the Count’s true intentions.
-My companions are waiting at the Inn. I’ll bring them along.

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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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