Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better? - Chapter 142

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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 142
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The moment Deborah Simour finished speaking, the banquet hall erupted into chaos. Her reasoning was remarkably persuasive, and if her hypothesis proved correct, casualties could occur at any moment near the Yucri Temple.
“Cracks in the earth…! There’s no guarantee they’d only appear in the air, is there?”
“Then we can’t simply sit idle, can we?”
“Even if it’s not the case, there’s no harm in preparing for the worst.”
Duke Simour, who had been staring at his daughter with astonished eyes, spoke in a grave tone. But if they were to prepare, they needed to move quickly. Many people were lodging at inns near the temple due to the holy pilgrimage season.
“This hardly seems the time to leisurely enjoy a banquet. I shall accompany you.”
Led by Beleck Simour, the younger branch family members of similar age rose from their seats in unison. Though it was an emergency, it was also a golden opportunity to earn distinction in the Capital—and perfectly timed for the birthday celebration.
“Beleck, I’m granting you authority as my representative to the Magic Tower. Bring personnel to support from the rear. I’ll use the gate to move directly and reassess the situation near the temple.”
“We shall follow as well.”
Duke Simour and his personal guard alone possessed enough military strength to annihilate an entire unit of the Royal Knights Order, and now the branch family heads were joining them.
“Go safely.”
Amid the commotion, the Duke gently squeezed the shoulder of Deborah, who sat lost in thought.
“I’m coming with you.”
At her unexpected words, all eyes turned toward her once more—this time filled with deep bewilderment.
‘What is she saying? How reckless.’
Even Beleck Simour, who had been moving forward with momentum, faltered in his steps.
“Lady Deborah, combat may break out. It would be dangerous for you to accompany us.”
“To be frank, you might become a hindrance…”
In the middle of a branch family mage’s cautionary words, she suddenly summoned an enormous sacred beast. When a pristine white turtle with an ethereal aura materialized upon the table, gasps of astonishment erupted throughout the hall.
“Isn’t that a sacred beast?”
“It appears to be a sacred beast descended from a light spirit…”
Light and darkness spirits had not been summoned by the Montes House for generations, so the attention was all the more intense.
“Where on earth did Lady Deborah obtain such an astronomically valuable sacred beast?”
“Remarkable.”
As murmurs of admiration filled the air, the lady transformed the white sacred beast back into a tattoo form.
“As you can see, I wasn’t suggesting I’d directly engage in combat. I’m not foolish—I’m well aware I’d be of no help in battle.”
“Then you intend to use that sacred beast?”
“It’s a sacred beast sensitive to dark power. If the monsters are hiding beneath the earth, this sacred beast should be able to detect them.”
Several voices exclaimed in admiration. She had presented the most compelling hypothesis and now offered the best solution to minimize casualties. The branch family members who had subtly dismissed Deborah Simour underwent a complete transformation in their expressions.
I couldn’t fathom what had happened to her in my absence, but she now embodied the pride of the Simour bloodline that they themselves took such satisfaction in.
“Deborah, if you sense danger at any moment, tear a teleportation scroll and return. Understood?”
Duke Simour surveyed the vacant expressions of the bewildered branch family members, then quietly instructed Deborah before leading the way forward.
* * *
The previous night.
When even the clouded moon vanished beneath dark clouds and profound darkness consumed the world, the earth trembled, and elongated serpent-shaped monsters burst through the ground, surging skyward like a calamity.
But thanks to the lady’s sacred beast, which had revealed the approximate locations of the monsters, the mages immediately began their incantations.
Fire Rain.
The sky, drenched in pitch-black darkness, flickered as if fireworks were exploding, and meteor-like flames rushed forward to meet the monsters. The people who had evacuated atop the hillside were left utterly spellbound by the overwhelming spectacle created by the mages.
Screech!
“The Second Battalion is casting defensive magic now!”
Rozard, who had arrived first and swiftly organized the formation, commanded the battle mages.
Soon a violent typhoon swept through, forming a colossal barrier of wind around the temple. While the mages chanted their incantations, artifacts unleashed torrents of offensive magic.
The monster proved formidable—its thick epidermis and venomous bodily fluids made it resist fiercely, turning the battle into an intense struggle. Yet ultimately, the relentless barrage of high-tier magic overwhelmed it. It was a flawless battle with not a single casualty.
News of the mages’ triumph spread rapidly throughout the Imperial Capital by dawn.
“What was the extent of the damage?”
The Crown Prince, who had been meditating in preparation for the Fragrant Flower Ceremony, slowly lifted his eyelids as he asked.
“The roof of the Tower Peak at Yucri Temple melted from the monster’s toxic secretions, but fortunately there were no casualties.”
“Not a single person was injured despite facing a venomous monster?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Since Duke Simour participated in the battle, there were no wounded whatsoever.”
‘Something feels off about this.’
The rifts occurred so suddenly that whenever one appeared, everyone scrambled to contain it hastily, like closing the barn door after the horses had fled.
‘How did the Magic Tower manage to seal the rift so swiftly and perfectly?’
The Crown Prince furrowed his brow and rubbed his jaw roughly.
“I want to hear the specific details. Summon one of the mages who participated in the battle.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Shortly after, a mage who had been dispatched for last night’s battle was brought before the Crown Prince.
“Explain yesterday’s events in detail. I heard that many battle mages were deployed. Did Rozard Simour hold the front line?”
“The Simour twins performed admirably, but strictly speaking, we were able to prevent major damage thanks to Deborah Simour. She was the greatest contributor to yesterday’s battle.”
“But Deborah Simour cannot manipulate mana at all. How could she possibly—?”
The mage began to recount the events of last night in detail to the Crown Prince, whose face had gone pale.
This rift was exceptional in that it formed underground rather than in midair. The lady had deduced this fact, allowing them to prepare for the monster’s attacks. Furthermore, using holy water sensitive to darkness, she had even identified the approximate location of the monster lurking beneath the earth.
“Remarkable. To respond so perfectly to such an unexpected situation. And with so little time to prepare.”
The Crown Prince murmured in a voice tinged with admiration despite himself.
Isidore and his sister had both spoken of her being an extraordinary person, but honestly, since he was unfamiliar with magic, it hadn’t truly resonated with him until now. This incident was quite astonishing.
“The timing was fortunate—the residents of the Yucri Temple area had evacuated before the monster revealed itself. Thanks to the concentration of high-tier mages, the creature presumed to be the leader was suppressed in approximately two hours.”
However, a problem arose. As the monster died, the eggs it carried in its belly spilled onto the ground, and the hatchlings that multiplied exponentially attempted to invade the residential areas.
But Deborah Simour, positioned in the rear, used holy water to create a defensive barrier of light, preventing the swarm of young monsters from even approaching the homes. Since the creature had been lurking underground in the deep night, it was extremely vulnerable to light.
Witnessing the young monsters collapse helplessly upon exposure to light, the mages combined area-effect magic with lighting magic, casting continuously, and the situation was quickly resolved.
“The sight of her wielding the pure white holy water was so mystical that the people of the Yucri Temple area chanted Deborah Simour’s name throughout the night. I myself was astounded by the massive dome-shaped defensive barrier.”
The mage’s voice carried undisguised excitement. Thanks to her, they had prevented a great catastrophe and further elevated the Magic Tower’s reputation.
“To think she could even handle holy water. The lady has many hidden talents. I must admit, I was impressed.”
“I myself did not expect Deborah Simour to take the field directly, so I saw her anew. I thought to myself that she truly is a Simour. I’m certain all the mages present that night thought she was magnificent.”
The mage appeared utterly captivated by the lady. Due to her elegant bearing, Deborah had always been quietly popular among the battle mages, and this incident further solidified her standing.
“I see. You’ve worked hard participating in the battle. You may return.”
Once the conversation with the mage ended, the Crown Prince resumed his meditation in a seated position.
‘Deborah Simour….’
The fact that the mages had successfully contained this rift was a blessing in disguise for him. The people were already anxious about the rifts, and if Yucri Temple and its surrounding areas had suffered major damage, the atmosphere would have become far more turbulent.
The Crown Prince was determined to successfully complete the Fragrant Flower Ceremony that his father had entrusted to him.
‘How should I handle this situation on my end?’
Lost in contemplation, he suddenly struck upon an excellent idea. Originally, the Crown Prince had intended to use the phoenix-shaped spirit that Philaf controlled to make the flower-burning ceremony more spectacular.
‘But Philaf made such a foolish blunder that he’s now confined to the outskirts.’
In the meantime, the lady had emanated an air of mystery and saved the people’s lives using pure holy water.
‘That will make for a far more impressive image than the phoenix.’
He seized his quill and hastily penned a letter. Time was of the essence—the ceremony was tomorrow. The Crown Prince immediately summoned a servant, thrust the letter into their hands, and dispatched them to the Simour Town House.
* * *
The day of the Incense Burning Ceremony.
I received the servants’ preparations in a state of exhaustion. Despite having repelled the demonic beasts that emerged from the rift, my heart remained unsettled. Perhaps it was the lingering unease from troubled dreams.
No matter how much of the sleep-inducing tea I consumed, the strange dreams showed no signs of ceasing.
‘Maybe I’m simply fatigued from staying awake the night before last.’
On the night the rift appeared, I stood vacant-minded atop the hillside near the Yucri Temple, watching the magic unfold, when I was startled by the sudden onslaught of countless young demonic beasts and hastily erected a barrier using Purple.
‘I never imagined Purple had grown so formidable.’
What was meant to be a simple barrier to protect myself became a colossal dome that Purple expanded to cover the entire hillside.
‘Well, having consumed so many expensive mana stones, it makes sense that Purple would have excess mana to spare.’
In any case, because of the barrier I had created, the people in that vicinity suddenly began regarding me as a hero.
‘This situation has spiraled into something far more complicated.’
I’m not certain how the rumors spread, but the Crown Prince suddenly made an unexpected request of me.

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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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