I'm a Goddess to Be Devoured by the Protagonist - Chapter 50

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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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Episode 50
—I’m a knight of the Ranunculus Count House. The place we’re going is the Ranunculus Estate.
The knight introduced himself from within the carriage.
—So what you need me to do is… well, it seems the Young Master has become a monster.
He whispered it softly, as though fearful of being overheard.
—A monster capable of mimicking humans would be formidable indeed. That creature has already consumed several knights.
A monster strong enough to have bested knights was certainly formidable.
—In any case, if I can uncover the monster’s true nature, all you need do is fight alongside me.
Fighting alongside him—it was a straightforward enough request, difficulty-wise.
Perhaps that’s why Sirius looked puzzled. This was a problem that someone else could have solved just as well.
—Consider it repayment for the potion as well. You look strong, and I’d like to recruit you to our estate. Once you’ve completed this task, you could become a knight. What do you say? It’s no small reward, is it?
—I…
[The Listener of Wishes Drawing Trajectories says we should set this aside for now.]
Sirius had no intention of becoming a knight.
Being bound to an organization meant being bound to a place. He wouldn’t be free to wander as he did now.
—You were about to say you couldn’t become a knight, weren’t you? How modest. In my view, you’re more than capable.
Fortunately, the knight misunderstood of his own accord.
—In any case, we must secure solid evidence before we dispatch it. People of standing know the Young Master has become a monster, but there’s no proof.
—Understood.
* * *
The two arrived at the Ranunculus Estate.
—I’ll speak to the lord and the captain about you. You wait here for now.
Sirius waited in the guest room.
Before long, the knight returned.
—Everything went well. We’ve decided to appoint you as a temporary knight of our house so you can move about freely.
Sirius was dressed in the uniform that marked him as belonging to the Count House. The fine garment suited him well.
—Now, just act alongside me. Come.
Sirius followed the knight to the estate’s garden, where a boy of about seven years old sat at a tea table, swinging his legs.
There it was.
The child’s appearance seemed ordinary enough, but he was no human. A monster had seized the shell of the dead Young Master, reading the memories in his brain to masquerade as a person.
Each night, it would venture out in search of fresh prey.
The boy showed interest in Sirius, who had taken his place at his side.
—I haven’t seen you before. Are you new?
—I’ve been hired as a temporary knight, sir.
—Is that so? What’s your name?
—Sirius.
—Oh, you’re of common birth? That’s impressive.
—Thank you.
Unlike nobility, who all bore family names, commoners sometimes had them and sometimes did not. This was how the boy recognized Sirius’s common status.
The fact that he’d discerned this suggested the monster possessed considerable intelligence—whether from occupying a human brain or from its own nature, he couldn’t say.
—Young Master, it’s time for your studies.
—Ugh, can’t I rest today? It’s so tedious.
—One must study without fail every day to grow intelligent.
—Fine. I understand.
The boy led the way toward his room.
In this household, a knight had always been assigned to follow the child this way. It was as though a knight served in place of a servant.
Yet those knights could never truly protect a child that had become a monster.
The boy, oblivious to all this, simply made his way to his chamber.
* * *
—I put Holy Water in the appetizer for tonight’s dinner. We had to journey all the way to Topaz Village to obtain it.
The knight spoke in a hushed voice, confiding in Sirius.
Since God had vanished, acquiring Holy Water would have been extraordinarily difficult. The extent of his effort was beyond measure.
—No matter how small the dose of Holy Water, a monster will show a reaction.
The monster’s true nature would soon be revealed. Just as it had in the original story.
In the dining hall where supper was being served, the knight stood with a tense expression, watching for any sign of reaction from the boy.
Yet the young man merely ate his meal with apparent relish.
[ ◎0◎? ]
Why? Had the monster developed a resistance to Holy Water without his knowing?
Then, Sirius moved.
But his destination was not the boy—it was the Countess.
—Do say something.
Yet strangely, the Countess remained silent.
—This is outrageous! Our target isn’t the Countess anyway!
The Knight tried to stop him in alarm, but Sirius pressed on regardless.
—You said so yourself. A monster would react. While everyone’s attention was on the Young Master, I saw the lady flinch as she ate, trying to hide her response.
—What?
—I suspect the Countess won’t be able to refute me. The Holy Water has dissolved in her mouth.
The Countess proved the point by remaining silent, merely covering her mouth with her hand.
The Knight grasped the truth at last and summoned the Count’s knights.
The Countess’s eyes darted frantically, searching for any means of escape—though none existed.
—Haaaack, cough!
Black liquid began pouring from the Countess’s mouth, taking on form and substance as it spilled.
Thud.
The Countess’s body crumpled to the ground. The weak shell had been shed, and the monster revealed itself.
—How frustrating! If I hadn’t been exposed, I could have devoured them all so easily!
The words came in the Countess’s voice.
—You who have seen my true form must die!
In that instant, Sirius drew his blade and severed the monster’s neck.
It was only possible because the monster had abandoned its human shape. Had it maintained that form, such a strike would never have been attempted.
The monster had blundered fatally.
—Gaaaah!!
Black liquid welled up from the wound left by the blade.
—A mere human!
The monster lunged at Sirius, but his sword held it back, rendering it helpless.
In that moment, the knights rushed upon the creature.
The battle, brief as it was, sealed the monster’s fate.
—I have you to thank for uncovering the monster.
The Knight, still reeling from the shock, approached Sirius and extended his hand. Sirius accepted the gesture, and the two shook hands once before releasing.
The Count, who had witnessed the entire spectacle, stood with his jaw hanging open in astonishment.
I found myself in the same state.
* * *
—Have something to eat.
Once the chaos had subsided, the Count arranged a meal. Sirius and the Knight were present at the table.
After a brief word to begin, the Count drank deeply from his cup before slowly speaking.
—My wife, my son, and I were riding in a carriage when we had an accident. A terrible one, yet we all survived. I thought it was a blessing sent down by heaven itself.
The Count clasped his hands together as though in prayer, then released them.
—But heaven abandoned us some time ago.
He spoke lightly, yet the sorrow beneath his words could not be concealed.
—Father…….
The boy embraced his father, and the Count held him in return.
—Have you no wish to become a knight of our house?
The Count asked Sirius. His tone was cordial and formal.
—I must respectfully decline.
—Why not? I believe our house is a respectable one.
For someone of common birth, becoming a knight was difficult. The Count’s expression showed confusion at the refusal.
—It is not that I do not wish to become a knight. Rather, I have no desire to become one.
—I don’t understand. May I ask your reason?
Sirius inclined his head respectfully before answering.
—I already serve another.
—I see. That is why you refused.
Understanding that it was not his house’s shortcoming but rather that Sirius was in service to me, the Count was put at ease.
—But why did you come to suspect the Young Master?
Sirius asked, puzzlement evident in his voice.
The monster had been the Countess. Naturally, this gave rise to questions about why the Count’s household had suspected the boy.
—Every piece of circumstantial evidence pointed to him—disappearances occurred only when he was absent, and such. Now, thinking back, it was the lady herself who first raised suspicion of him. Perhaps the entire affair was fabricated from the start.
In the original tale, the boy was the monster. Somehow, the narrative had diverged.
Living through transmigration, such things can happen.
I would need to be more careful going forward.
I waited until Sirius was alone, then sent a message.
[“The Listener of Wishes Drawing Trajectories” says that today was truly fortunate.]
—Yes, that’s correct.
[‘The Listener of Wishes Drawing Trajectories’ says that Sirius is truly remarkable, after all.]
—It was nothing special. I simply happened to discover it by chance.
Someone once told me that luck is a skill too. You’re genuinely impressive.
[‘The Listener of Wishes Drawing Trajectories’ says that in any case, you’re allowed to feel proud of this accomplishment.]
—Understood.
Sirius, speaking those words, looked a little pleased with himself.

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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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