That’s Not What Kissing Means! - Chapter 115

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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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That’s not what kissing means!
Episode 115

I had completed all preparations—dispelling the magic circle and readying myself for Lionel’s arrival.
Theo had selected only the most skilled knights from those stationed at the Duke’s Mansion, positioning them to guard the Eastern Forest and Northern Tomb.
Everything had proceeded in absolute secrecy.
Two days had passed since Helena, Donovan, and I inscribed the magical formations.
Now we waited for the approaching storm.
I sat in my room, gazing out the window while sipping tea. The tall branches were laden with verdant leaves.
I had met Theo when spring was beginning, and we had spent considerable time together at his manor and in the Holy Kingdom.
Spring had slipped away unnoticed, and early summer was drawing near. As if announcing the season, brilliant sunlight tickled my cheeks.
Despite the peaceful scenery, my heart was taut with tension.
I desperately hoped that all our efforts would not be in vain, that no more victims would fall….
I prayed earnestly that the Grand Cleric’s terrible crimes would finally cease.
I was about to take another sip of tea to calm my nerves when—
The door burst open and Theo appeared. Unusually, he had entered without knocking, his expression resolute.
Reading the heavy atmosphere, I immediately grasped the situation.
“Evelyn, Lionel has arrived.”
At Theo’s words, I rose from my seat.
“Which direction did he come from?”
“The Eastern Forest. It appears he was indeed in contact with Jayden, as we suspected.”
“I see.”
We left the room and descended the stairs together.
“The Mage guarding the Gate sent word. After having a Knight shadow them, they headed toward the Eastern Forest.”
Theo had instructed everyone assigned to the task to observe Lionel’s group quietly.
They were to report their movements but not interfere.
Instead, to avoid arousing Lionel’s suspicion, he had left the regular guards in their usual positions.
They would be heading toward their destination, their surroundings heavily guarded.
“He came disguised as a commoner.”
Lionel’s group, dressed in humble attire, gave no hint of their true station.
Fortunately, the Duke’s Mansion possessed a portrait depicting the Previous Duke and Lionel together, and I had instructed the Gate keeper to memorize his appearance.
Besides Lionel, there would surely be Clerics and Holy Knights among his companions.
In preparation for any contingency, Theo had also fastened a sacred sword at his waist.
The Ashford Knight Order had personnel specialized in tracking, and their skills were considerable.
The tracking knights followed Lionel’s group, erasing all traces of their own presence.
As we left the Duke’s Mansion, Vanessa awaited us with a carriage, having received Theo’s orders.
The carriage’s exterior was unremarkable. It bore no House of Ashford insignia—just the sort of ordinary appearance one might see anywhere on the streets.
Once the three of us climbed aboard, the driver set out toward Technicians’ Village.
My heart thundered in my chest, indistinguishable from the rhythm of hoofbeats.

* * *

Lionel entered Technicians’ Village alongside his entourage.
The gate keeper allowed them through without hesitation, exactly as expected—thanks to Jayden’s advance notice.
It had been some time since I last visited the Ashford Estate. I surveyed my surroundings.
The landscape remained unchanged from before, and foreign merchants and Mages appeared scattered throughout.
I conducted myself with the ease of an outsider attending to business, concealing a metal box inscribed with ceremonial patterns inside a wooden crate and filling the space above with medicinal herbs.
The Ashford Estate was exceedingly familiar to me.
I had worn myself thin visiting this place to grow closer to Cedric Ashford.
The entourage numbered five in total, myself included.
Two Senior Priests fluent in ancient languages and two Holy Knights renowned as the finest swordsmen in the Holy Kingdom accompanied me.
Adding more people would risk drawing suspicion.
It was when I reached the entrance to the Eastern Forest, beyond Technicians’ Village.
“Here it is!”
Jayden emerged with an obsequious smile. His gestures, however, were remarkably cautious, belying the warmth of his greeting.
He had always been greedy beyond his station, which made him easy to manipulate.
“Have you been well?”
“Indeed, the Eastern Forest sees few visitors unless there’s urgent business. It should be quite peaceful.”
“I’m grateful for such valuable intelligence.”
As I moved to enter the forest, Jayden seized my sleeve.
“You haven’t forgotten our agreement, have you? That once this matter concludes successfully, you’ll send me abroad?”
….
A flicker of annoyance crossed my eyes before vanishing.
“Then, somewhere intimate with the Holy Kingdom. I’ll grant you a title and substantial compensation.”
I assured him that I had already made such promises.
“Ah, but if something goes wrong… please don’t mention my involvement!”
“Of course. From this point forward, our connection ends here.”
I smiled benevolently. It was true—I would have no further use for Jayden.
With a visibly relieved expression, Jayden produced a piece of parchment.
“A map of the forest. Since there may be people stationed along the main paths, avoid these locations…”
“I understand. You’ve done well.”
I took the map lightly and moved ahead. I had no intention of venturing deep into the forest anyway.
The Ashford Knight Order would surely be guarding the Eastern Forest.
Searching the forest in this situation would be nothing short of inviting capture.

Not long after, Lionel came to a halt at a particular spot.
“We’ll conduct the ritual here.”
Calimedes would emerge from the Eastern Forest, so all that remained was to perform the ceremony and burn the entire forest so that the God of Death would take notice.
Without a perfect ritual, speed was everything.
The ground was uneven, but the dense foliage concealed us perfectly. It was ideal for clandestine work.
The Holy Knights retrieved the metal box they had brought.
The box inscribed with the ritual circle would soon absorb souls along with the flames.
The knights Theo Ashford had hidden would turn to ash before they could even escape the forest, becoming offerings.
I spread the crimson velvet cloth across the flat rock and placed the metal box upon it.
The Clerics scattered dark magic materials they had prepared around the rock. They poured black liquid and scattered ashen powder.
The forest was an excellent place to start a fire.
Soon the grass that touched the materials would ignite, and flames would rise.
Lionel closed his eyes and chanted an incantation. Dizzying words poured from his lips for a long time.
The Clerics beside him wore expressions of excitement.
The thought of welcoming the God of Death filled them with elation.
After finishing the incantation, Lionel cried out one final time.
“Calimedes! These are the souls we have gathered for you! Please partake of them!”
May the wailing souls packed within the box be savored and enjoyed to the fullest…!
Then I left the rock and moved to safety. Now it was time for the flames to consume the forest.
Everything would become ash and melt away—everything except the specially crafted metal box.
Once the fire subsided, I planned to retrieve the box again.
“Calimedes will answer with fire as before, won’t he?” one of the Senior Priests asked in an excited voice.
If the flames rose twice, piercing the sky, it would mean the God of Death had answered.
Lionel nodded.
“Yes, that’s right. Now, let’s hurry and get to safety.”
The group quickly walked through the forest, fleeing from the great inferno that would erupt in minutes.
That was when it happened.
“Ugh…!”
“Lionel!”
Lionel fell to his knees, his body trembling violently. Then he collapsed to the ground, clutching his heart.
“What on earth is happening!”
“Are you unwell?”
Their concerns fell on deaf ears. An unfamiliar agony enveloped him.
His body stiffened from his fingertips, and his internal organs felt grotesquely constricted.
In that moment, his entire life unfolded before his eyes. From childhood he couldn’t remember, through his youth spent in constant contempt, his inferiority complex toward Cedric Ashford, and even his time in the Holy Kingdom…
What was this sense of loss?
As if something precious were slipping away…
Lionel wept bitterly from the excruciating pain.
Lionel shed tears profusely from intense agony.

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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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