My Husband Lives in a Painting - Chapter 77

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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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My Husband Lives Within the Painting, Episode 77
Chapter 13. How to Handle a Demon
Fake Gold. The only lead.
I repeated that single name to myself as I stepped into the Temple.
The moment I entered the Archive of Saint Aurelius, countless books sprawled before my eyes.
‘I don’t have clearance to enter the Sealed Archive, so I’d settle for finding anything useful here.’
Running my fingers along the shelves with a fragile hope, I discovered a small corner devoted to Heresy Research tucked away in an obscure nook.
‘So there is something?’
Buoyed by anticipation, I crouched before the bookcase.
“Let me see what we have…….”
But as I examined the titles carefully, I couldn’t suppress a sigh of disappointment.
Studies of Ancient Belief, The Evolution of Holy War Doctrine, The Formation and Change of Small Faith Communities—nothing but mundane titles.
“Still, you never know. I might as well read through everything.”
So I pressed on, opening each volume one by one.
I flexed my cramping legs and spent considerable time wrestling with the texts.
But as expected, I found no information about Fake Gold—not even a hint about rare minerals.
‘Of course. Dangerous things like this wouldn’t be kept in an archive that ordinary people can visit.’
I exhaled deeply and pushed myself to my feet.
“But I have to find out about Fake Gold somehow…….”
I was still running my fingertips along the spines when it happened.
“Hey, what are you doing here?”
At that familiar voice, I turned reflexively—and felt my expression harden at once.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
Louis stood leaning against the bookcase, arms crossed in an arrogant slouch.
Of all the places, I had to run into that face.
“Surely you’re not taking the Academy entrance exam at your age, so what brings you all the way here, hmm?”
His glib tone, his eyes raking over me from head to toe.
“…….”
My body went rigid—an involuntary recoil I couldn’t control.
But in the next instant, he said something I never expected.
“By the way, you just said Fake Gold, right?”
“…… What?”
“I have it.”
Watching my pupils waver, Louis’s lips curled into a smile.
“Want it?”
* * *
The Holy Knights lived communally in separate quarters within the Temple, ready for emergency mobilization.
The men’s and women’s sections were strictly divided, and trespassing into each other’s spaces was forbidden—yet Louis led me to his room without hesitation.
“First time visiting the Barracks?”
“…….”
“Normally the Holy Knights share rooms two to a unit, but I have a private room?”
It was just past noon, so the corridors were quiet, but the occasional knights we passed made heat creep up the back of my neck.
“Am I even allowed to be in a place like this?”
“What’s the problem? Scared?”
“…… Ugh.”
Fine. I’m hardly shocked anymore.
But this time I didn’t object. I was the one in a hurry, after all.
‘Just take the item and get out.’
Fortunately, we soon reached Louis’s room.
“Come on in.”
Despite his confident stride, the room was an absolute mess.
You’d think with no maid to clean up anymore, he’d manage it himself.
‘So the saying goes—habits formed at three last till eighty. Some things never change.’
“How do you like it?”
“…….”
I wondered if the reason he had a private room was simply that no one volunteered to share with Louis.
“It’s around here somewhere, hidden away……. Hold on.”
As Louis bent over and rummaged through the clutter, I stepped closer and asked carefully.
“Where did you get Fake Gold in the first place?”
“I picked it up when we raided a Demon Followers encampment a while back.”
“Garrison stations? There are that many of them?”
“Don’t even ask! No matter how many you kill, more just keep pouring out. They’re like cockroaches, I’m telling you.”
I glanced casually around his room.
On the map covering one wall, I could see several sections marked with red X’s.
Likely a record of enemy strongholds that Louis had personally cleared out.
“Anyway, it was mixed in with the confiscated goods, and I figured it could fetch a decent sum, so I quietly pocketed it.”
……
“Some dumbass in the middle tried to make a fuss about the count not matching, and we almost got busted, but I talked my way out of it with my smooth tongue. Ha ha ha!”
Insane. Watching Louis burst into laughter as if he were proud of himself, I couldn’t hide my shock.
“Do you even know what that thing is used for?”
“Don’t know? I think I learned about it once, but what was it again?”
……
“Oh, found it!”
Louis pulled out a large jewelry box from among the dust-covered crates.
When I opened the lid, a single round orb sat resting on a plush velvet cushion.
“What do you think? Pretty cool, right?”
The surface had a smooth golden sheen, but there was something distinctly different about it from ordinary gold.
It wasn’t the hard, metallic luster of metal, but rather a gentle, pulsing light that seemed to radiate from deep within.
……
The overly beautiful radiance shimmered as if deliberately designed to tempt humans.
“Well? Even you have to admit it’s beautiful, right?”
“……I see now why it’s called Fake Gold.”
“To be honest, plenty of others wanted it too. They said this thing is really rare?”
Seeing it in person only deepened my conviction.
‘This is definitely not an ordinary object.’
I nodded slowly, a solemn resolve settling over me.
“Sell it to me. I’ll pay whatever you ask.”
“What? Really? For real?”
Life flooded back into Louis’s face in an instant.
“Then I’m really going to name a high price?”
“Do as you wish.”
After deliberating for a long while, he named a price so absurd it was five times what you’d pay for pure gold of the same size.
‘Truly worthy of a merchant family’s blood.’
But considering the value contained in this object, it was hardly an extravagant expense.
“Yes! It was stolen goods anyway, so I didn’t know where to fence it!”
I wrote out a Promissory Note on a blank sheet and handed it over, and Louis began humming contentedly.
Meanwhile, I clutched the jewelry box to my chest.
‘Since I went to such lengths to acquire it, it has to yield at least some meaningful effect.
If this Fake Gold restores Camille’s strength, then perhaps she can return to reality.
‘If it works out that way, I won’t have to fear anyone anymore!’
Especially not Basaria, who had dared to speak of breaking our contract.
Once my ally, he had now become the most dangerous threat to both Camille and me. And yet……
‘Come to think of it, Louis is Basaria’s personal guard, isn’t he?’
“……Louis.”
“Yeah?”
I met his gaze quietly—eyes the same color as my own—and after a long silence, I slowly parted my lips.
“What’s your impression of Lord Basaria? What kind of person does he seem to you?”
“What’s that all of a sudden?”
“Oh, never mind. I was just curious. You’ve been watching him up close for a long time, after all.”
I needed information.
Apart from the fact that he was a Heretic Judge from Etherion, I knew almost nothing about him.
……
But the moment I sensed the atmosphere turn cold, I felt a pang of regret.
‘Oh no. Did I make a mistake?’
“Just forget I asked—”
I was hurriedly trying to take back my words when—
“……Narrator. Did you already know that bastard has a Dual Personality?”
“What?”
Louis’s eyes flickered with excitement.
“Wow, this is insane! You knew too? You saw him switch personalities too, didn’t you?”
He’d been pouring out admiration while holding his forehead, but suddenly he flung the promissory note across the bed.
Then he paced the room distractedly, murmuring as if calculating something carefully, before abruptly turning toward me.
“Do you have time right now?”
“Some, but… why?”
Before I could finish answering, his hand snatched mine.
“Then come with me. Right now!”
Louis kept my hand firmly grasped as he left the room without hesitation.
I stumbled after him, half-dragged, asking urgently.
“Wait—where are we going?”
Louis stopped abruptly and turned around, a crooked smile playing at his lips.
“Where else? I’m going to teach that bastard a lesson he won’t forget.”
“…What?”
“Man, this is going to be fun!”
I let myself be pulled along by Louis, who had started humming cheerfully, staring blankly at his back.

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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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