Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better? - Chapter 170

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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 170
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BOOM—!
A deafening roar shook the floor beneath us, the sound tearing through eardrums with savage intensity.
“A rift!”
“Monsters again….”
“Don’t panic! Summon the Royal Guard to the main entrance! Form ranks immediately and prepare for combat!”
The massive rift that opened before the Royal Library’s entrance transformed the peaceful afternoon into chaos in an instant.
SHRIEK—!
A grotesque beast with two heads bared its sickly yellow fangs and unleashed a terrifying roar. The moment it spotted people, it assumed an attack stance and thrashed wildly. Amid the pandemonium, a man with a black mask pulled up to his lips gestured toward the now-unguarded entrance.
“…Now.”
“Go.”
The operatives exchanged a silent signal and slipped into the library like shadows.
“What is that sound?”
Meanwhile, the Grand Hall where the forum was being held descended into disorder from the deafening boom and the creature’s eerie cries.
“Another rift?”
“Ahhh!”
RUMBLE—!
As the massive beast rampaged, the ground trembled and the towering bookshelves that filled the high ceiling swayed dangerously, threatening to collapse. Screams erupted from every corner.
“What in the world is happening?!”
Marquis Devion, who was presiding over the forum, cried out with an urgent expression. One of the Royal Guard members patrolling nearby burst into the Grand Hall, gasping for breath.
“Marquis! A rift has opened at the library entrance!”
“We need to get out!”
“But if we go outside where the monsters are, won’t we just draw their attention and make things worse?”
“What if the building collapses or the bookshelves fall while we’re just sitting here?!”
As people began murmuring in terror, Marquis Devion stepped forward with determination.
“Distinguished guests! Please remain calm! The knights and guards outside are dealing with the monsters, so wait here patiently….”
But Marquis Devion’s words never reached their end.
“Fire!”
“There’s a fire!”
Acrid smoke began pouring in from somewhere.
“Fire is spreading rapidly from the first floor! Everyone evacuate!”
“Good heavens!”
Through the thickening smoke, someone shouted in desperation. People from the reading rooms adjacent to the classroom where the forum was held poured into the corridors, and in an instant, chaos far worse than before erupted.
“We have to run! I have children at home!”
“Move!”
“Don’t push!”
With monsters appearing and fire breaking out in succession, the terrified masses lost all order like dominoes tumbling. Many fell into deeper panic, knowing that if the bookshelves and books caught fire, the flames would spread at an unstoppable rate.
“AHHHHH!”
To make matters worse, fierce flames surged violently beyond the windows. People clawed and tangled with each other, desperate to escape this inferno.
And in the midst of this chaos, the elderly scholars seated far from the entrance at the upper seats were unable to push through the crowd and could only be swept backward continuously.
“You mustn’t breathe.”
At that moment, a cool voice cut through those who had failed to escape.
As one scholar swayed with a pale face from the acrid smoke, Deborah Simour spoke calmly, generously dousing her handkerchief with water before covering her mouth and nose. She tore away the cumbersome lace and hem of her skirt, her red eyes scanning her surroundings meticulously.
‘In such a vast library, surely there’s only one entrance? There must be a separate passage for servants, just like in the Simour Town House.’
That was when it happened.
“Everyone, please remain calm and come this way!”
A man in a blue uniform, apparently an Imperial Administrator, gathered those who hadn’t yet escaped and guided them toward an exit near the Study behind the bookshelves.
“There’s an emergency evacuation route back here.”
“Thank goodness.”
“Phew. Really now… what on earth is happening?”
Following the guide who led the way, they crossed through a dim and narrow corridor, descended a steep staircase, and a faint light appeared, suggesting an exit to the outside.
“We’ve arrived.”
Those who had followed the guide through the narrow corridor, tensely worried the flames might spread this far, finally showed signs of relief.
‘Phew.’
Deborah clenched and unclenched her hands, damp with cold sweat. But the faint relief that had found her was short-lived as the atmosphere took a sinister turn.
‘What is this?’
“W-where is this…?”
Upon stepping outside, what came into view was not a path leading to the main street, but a dark empty lot reeking of blood and iron.
“Blood, blood….”
As the thick smoke cleared and people’s vision sharpened, a horrific scene unfolded before their eyes.
The empty lot was littered with corpses stripped of their clothes, brutally murdered, apparently having had their Imperial uniforms stolen. The Duke had disguised himself as an Imperial guide and deliberately lured Deborah Simour to this empty lot.
Then, from behind piles of cargo stacked in the empty lot, men wearing black masks who appeared to be well-trained assassins revealed themselves one by one.
“…!”
A small arrowhead flew toward the princess in an instant. The sharp tip grazed swiftly past her ear, and crimson blood dripped to the ground.
A rupture, infiltration, arson, and deception.
All of it was a trap layered upon trap, designed to draw the princess into a dead end and ensure her death.
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No matter how venomous and violent a snake might be, if it becomes ensnared in sticky spider webs woven layer upon layer, it will find escape difficult.
‘Everything is unfolding according to my lord’s will….’
Albert, an Eccentric One who manipulated spider-form demons and one of the Fourth Empress’s trusted subordinates, stood atop the Tower Peak built within the Royal Library, gazing down at the Royal Library with gray smoke rising from it.
The sight of people suffering and crying out in agony stirred strange emotions within him.
Albert, who had endured an unfortunate childhood, had dreamed of a world where chaos reigned and deep darkness prevailed. The sight of Empire citizens groaning in misery because of the Black Mages he so despised and oppressed brought him exhilaration.
‘At last….’
His subordinates appeared to have successfully completed the snake drive, and Deborah Simour emerged toward the empty lot where the trap had been set. Albert gazed down at her, his wrinkled lips pressing firmly together.
‘She’s always been an eyesore.’
When the order to kill that woman fell from his lord’s lips, Albert immediately volunteered to take on this task himself. Not only had Deborah Simour been troublesome, but Rozard Simour’s activities in the Eastern Region had resulted in the deaths of many Black Mage comrades with whom he had been building their great cause.
‘Even if Deborah Simour were not the saint who appeared in Hyanghwa, removing the greatest obstacle that continuously hinders my lord’s plans would still be worthwhile.’
The Simour snakes would fall into shock at their beloved princess’s death, and it could also achieve a twofold result of mentally crushing the Magic Tower Master, who was difficult to bring to their side.
‘Only… my lord did expend considerable power to cause two consecutive ruptures.’
Assassinating the eldest daughter of House Simour, a founding family of the Empire, was never going to be simple—which was why my lord personally oversaw this operation.
“Deborah Simour. She’s intelligent and quick-witted. Even Ophelia, who was quite a capable intelligence operative, never managed to land a single effective blow against her.”
The Fourth Empress, who had been completely deceived by rumors that the princess was a reckless fool, felt her eyes gleam with renewed determination.
“Then I must give this my absolute best effort.”
The moment the Fourth Empress and Albert learned that Deborah Simour would be attending a forum at the Royal Library, they meticulously wove together layers upon layers of intricate schemes.
They created a rift in the Southern Region to keep Isidore, the Sword Mage, away from the forum, and used arson to lure the princess directly into the trap.
“If the princess truly is a saint as I suspect, I cannot allow her to face monsters directly. Instead, I’ll unleash my assassins.”
The pure and radiant light that had driven back the shadow specter.
It had worked so effectively only because monsters were vulnerable to holy power. Against trained killers, no matter how much holy force the princess unleashed, it would deal negligible damage.
‘That filthy, desolate empty lot will become your tomb, Deborah Simour—the most magnificent grave in all the Empire.’
The moment the assassin, disguised as a guide, lunged forward with a poisoned blade, Albert was certain of victory.
But one second later, something happened that defied belief.
‘What… what exactly is this pure light?!’
His eyes flew open in shock.
Could it truly be that Deborah was the very incarnation of the saint the Demon Lord had prophesied…?!
Hundreds of brilliant white orbs materialized in the air, so blindingly radiant they stung the eyes, and they shot forth like arrows toward the assassins the Empress had painstakingly cultivated over the years.
Boom!!
An explosion of such violent force erupted across the empty lot that a fierce wind swept through the entire area.
Deborah instinctively cast holy magic in rapid succession, fighting for survival against the immediate threat bearing down upon her.

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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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