I’m Sick of the Kind Protagonist, so I Might as Well Just Die - Chapter 55

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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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#55
Leonas had been grinning like a mischievous child preparing an elaborate prank, but suddenly his laughter ceased and he sprang to his feet.
“I need to move immediately.”
“Right. I don’t know what you’re planning, but the Ancient Gods could turn their attention to you at any moment, so hurry.”
“First, I’m going to land a blow against Bilateia Fernichiosa Venisike.”
Leonas grinned continuously, as if delighted merely by the thought. I blinked cautiously and asked very carefully.
“You entered the Imperial Palace under the status of Imperial Princess Bilateia Fernichiosa Venisike, didn’t you? But it’s okay to attack her? The Nobility Assembly isn’t on your side either?”
“Of course I can’t attack her openly.”
“But you just said you’d land a blow against her…?”
“Right. So pick whichever appeals to you—extortion, turning things upside down, or stripping her assets.”
“What?”
Since falling into this world, Leonas had consistently maintained a cold, steely gaze, but now his eyes sparkled with renewed brilliance as he raised his hand. White light shimmered from his fingertips. The tangled threads of luminescence coalesced into a sphere above his palm before spreading across his entire body in a radiant display.
“See? This is the power the gods granted me—power capable of moving mountains. So ruining a spouse’s fortune should be manageable.”
“…I doubt the Ancient Gods intended for you to use that power this way.”
“I know. But they didn’t specify any restrictions on how I use it.”
I narrowed my eyes and gave him a thumbs up. Leonas frowned in displeasure.
“Hey, is a thumbs up all you’ve got? If I’m going to this much effort, shouldn’t you at least cheer me on?”
“That’s the thing, you see, Leonas.”
“What?”
“Because of the curse, I can’t offer you sincere words of encouragement.”
“Ah….”
Leonas looked at me with a dissatisfied expression, but soon let out a quiet laugh and left the chamber without another word.
Suddenly alone, I looked around the chamber anew and slowly leaned my back against the sofa. Sleep crashed over me. As my eyelids grew heavy, I wondered why it felt so unfamiliar—then realized I hadn’t slept properly since arriving in this world.
‘All I’ve done is die and wake up. Or collapse from whatever drug Bilateia Fernichiosa Venisike gave me or from Leonas’s pestering.’
Overwhelmed by a natural drowsiness I hadn’t felt in ages, the moment I closed my eyes, perfect, dreamless sleep claimed me.
And how much time had passed?
An intense gaze more powerful than ever before pulled my consciousness back. As I forced open my half-lidded eyes at the sensation of something piercing my skin, a brilliant status window came into view.
▶ [Observation Alert] Grand Duke-Imperial Princess Authority Dispute Occurring!
Entities 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 9 have participated in observation!
Current observation concentration ▮▮▮▮▮▮ 61%
‘An authority dispute….’
So this was how the gods perceived Leonas’s confident “extortion.”
‘I’ll find out the specifics when Leonas returns—’
But even as I thought this, I belatedly realized the shadow looming over my body belonged to Leonas. He lay diagonally beside me, nearly naked.
‘Wait, when did he come back? Why is he taking off his shirt—! He only removed his shirt, right? But I can see below the blanket, and there’s that area, the pubic region or whatever, visible… Is this right?’
It seemed Leonas had succeeded in his planned endeavor and returned here directly, falling asleep with complete ease. His body was equally at ease.
“You! What is the meaning of this!!”
Bilateia Fernichiosa Venisike, who usually made an effort to maintain dignity upon her entrance, burst through the door without restraint. The force with which she stormed in was so fierce that the Maids who normally stood guard outside my chamber rolled across the floor like bowling pins.
“Must I receive this first thing in the morning?”
Bilateia Fernichiosa Venisike raged as if the fallen Maids were invisible. Trembling with barely contained fury, she advanced directly toward the bed where Leonas and I lay. In her hand was a thick stack of papers.
“Isn’t a married couple’s morning greeting a bit too intense?”
Leonas, freshly awakened, greeted her with an unhurried smile as though he had been waiting for this very moment.
“Want to see what truly intense looks like?”
With a shout, Bilateia hurled the bundle of papers she’d been holding onto the bed. At first glance, they appeared to be some kind of receipt forms.
“How could you possibly do such a thing!”
“I’d appreciate it if you could specify which ‘thing’ you’re referring to. While the Imperial Princess was cozying up with the Duke, there were quite a few ‘things’ I’ve done.”
“Beyond publicly announcing that you’d conduct relief efforts with your personal fortune? What else? What else did you do!”
“Ah. So it’s about the relief efforts.”
Leonas slowly raised his upper body. The more leisurely he sat up, the higher Bilateia’s eyes narrowed.
“You thought that if you announced it publicly, I wouldn’t be able to refuse because of my dignity, didn’t you?”
“Of course.”
“Ha. You admit it so readily?”
“Did you expect me to deny it? Not at all. I did it while anticipating what expression you’d wear when you came to me.”
▶ [Urgent Observation Alert] The Creator has joined the scene!
All entities under observation!
Observation Concentration ▮▮▮▮▮▮▮▮▮▮ 100%
Energy harvest is surging!
As the status window began flickering rapidly, Perenustus appeared. He entered the chamber without a sound and handed Bilateia several documents he’d been clutching in his hand.
‘Perenustus… he seems angry.’
His cold, icy gaze blazed for just a moment in my direction before turning back to Leonas.
“These are the matters the Grand Duke arbitrarily conveyed to the Commoner’s Assembly yesterday.”
Leonas’s lips curved upward. Bilateia, shuddering at that smile, roughly flipped through the papers she’d received from Perenustus.
“Public welfare policies, social security policies, education policies… Ha! A man who seduced an innocent Imperial Princess and usurped the throne now pretends to care for the people?”
“It’s not pretense. I genuinely intend to care for them.”
“With my personal wealth?”
“As you can see.”
“Ha! Well, I’ll give you this much credit. Of all your attempts to scratch under my skin so far, this one was the most brilliant!”
Leonas faced Bilateia with an arrogant shrug, as though receiving proper praise.
“It was the best I could manage. If you wish to protest, you should direct it at the Duke clinging so closely to your side.”
“Are you suggesting I was the one who provoked the Grand Duke?”
“You demonstrated the will of the Nobility Assembly. Calling a bastard who was once a stable hand and then a gladiator slave a ‘Grand Duke’ now, treating him as the Imperial Princess’s husband—you said you despised it.”
“….”
“The Nobility Assembly is the one who cornered me into a position where I have no authority over the national treasury but only the obligation to handle mounting responsibilities. I simply resolved the accumulating matters hastily using my wife’s personal funds.”
Bilateia clenched her teeth.
‘So his threat to extort me was literally meant in that sense…’
I pulled the blanket up and rolled my eyes in amusement. Leonas had silenced both Bilateia and Perenustus with impeccable logic, like a model student.
‘Bilateia can’t refuse out of pride. The moment she exercises her veto, the Imperial Princess becomes garbage who ignores the people’s welfare.’
Bilateia, who likely understood how the world worked better than I did, ran her fingers through her hair with a face on the verge of breaking.
“So, how far do you intend to go?”
“As far as necessary.”
“Stop playing word games! Decide exactly how far you intend to go with my personal finances!”
“Well, I can’t give you precise details just yet. The person managing things has some oddly negligent gaps, and there are far too many essential items missing from both inside and outside the Palace.”
Bilateia Fernichiosa Venisike, who had been shouting, stiffened her expression and glanced sideways at Perenustus. I found myself unable to help but look at Perenustus as well.
‘How far is Leonas actually planning to push this? If he openly curses the administrator for incompetently constructing the Worlds like this, what will happen?’
Perenustus, receiving the full weight of everyone’s gaze, responded with a face devoid of any emotion.
“If you wished to provoke me, you need only challenge me to a direct confrontation.”

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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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