The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 101

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 101

Hm?

What does that mean?

“Actually, I said earlier that I would go in for the Second Prince’s sake, but honestly, I was a little scared too. I could have fallen asleep in there and never come out for the rest of my life.”

I was inwardly amazed.

I thought Alpheus would just say ‘I’ll be fine!’ and jump right in, but he could actually feel fear deep down.

“But you jumped in without hesitation.”

Alpheus looked straight into my eyes.

“Tell me honestly. You… didn’t you think it would be okay to just fall asleep in there?”

My heart skipped a beat for a moment.

Because he had hit the nail on the head.

In fact, I had been making all my decisions based on the premise that the original story was correct.

But at the same time, I was clearly aware that I might simply be insane.

I couldn’t help but be aware of that.

I had lived with that doubt since I was very young.

So actually… if the original story was just my delusion…

I thought it would be better to just fall asleep instead.

“Brisa, do you know what I thought when I looked at you?”

“…I don’t know.”

“The thought that it would be better if Mother had passed away. Just, it would have been nice if we had all ended like that too.”

I couldn’t argue with those thoughtless words Harrison had said.

I really loved Mother so much, but…

Sometimes it was really too overwhelming. And I felt guilty about feeling that burden itself.

That’s what it meant to have a family member who wasn’t in their right mind.

The Madness seems to be getting worse lately, and if even the original story is an illusion.

Then I thought it wouldn’t be so bad to live in a dream instead.

Without causing harm to anyone.

That’s why I could jump in.

“Is this… something that can be fixed by scolding? Can this be solved through discipline?”

Alpheus muttered in anguish.

“How… how can I make you cherish yourself? Huh?”

I hesitated, not knowing what to answer.

A very awkward atmosphere flowed between us that even Cheria couldn’t mediate now.

In the end, all I could say was another rational suggestion.

“Well, anyway, we found out that both of us can enter that forest and be fine. So let’s go in together and meet Delmia. Since you don’t know what Delmia looks like, I naturally have to go in with you…”

If anyone other than us entered that forest, they would all fall asleep, so there was no choice.

“Whether you try to talk or try to knock them out…”

But even while making a rational suggestion, I vaguely felt that this wasn’t the right answer.

“Grrrrrrrr…”

Along with a thundering sound, I heard the footsteps of a beast rushing toward us frantically.

“Grrr…”

We were all startled for a moment. Harrison and Cheria especially screamed and backed away.

“Huh?”

Alpheus jumped up and shouted.

“Wolf-dog?”

My jaw dropped.

With its distinctive appearance that was neither wolf nor dog, it was definitely Wolf-dog, but…

“Why, why did you get so big?”

It had grown large enough that I could ride on it now.

“Grrrrrrrrrr…”

Wolf-dog blocked the path in front of Alpheus and me, baring its teeth at Cheria.

* * *

Everything took longer than expected.

The winter Monster Wave was an annual event in the Western Region.

Leopold was the heir to the Grand Duchy. He absolutely couldn’t abandon the Monster Wave to chase after Brisa’s group.

He tried to have his subordinates send a letter to Brisa’s group saying “Don’t trust Marquis Cheria Naisar,” but failed.

Since they had relied on Warp for so long, the roads weren’t well-maintained, and most of the Warps they needed to use weren’t working.

Therefore, tracking someone who was constantly moving was impossible in itself.

Moreover, Harrison was skilled in Southern Region geography. So he guided Alpheus and Brisa through shortcuts and hidden scenic routes, making it impossible for the Western Region’s subordinates to quickly pursue them.

But during all this, the power of Leopold’s special ability, Air Strike, became ridiculously intense.

‘This has never happened before…’

Not only the speed, but even the range of attack was incomparable to before.

Moreover, even when not using Air Strike, he was overflowing with power.

At first, he couldn’t control it well and would break spoons. But gradually he got used to it and adapted enough to manage daily life.

‘…Is this also part of the process of continuously becoming a monster?’

So Leopold’s Monster Subjugation became much easier than expected.

Meanwhile, Sebon’s Information Network kept bringing news. Once they caught a clue, momentum built up.

[The target of the curse can only regain control of their ego by knowing their identity from Another World, namely their ‘name.’]

There was so much fragmentary information that I couldn’t understand exactly what it meant.

[That ‘name’ can only be known by those who have connections to Another World. At the same time, you must know ‘that name’ to create new curses as well.]

I had absolutely no clue.

[Attaching related folklore from another world.]

Nevertheless, Leopold memorized each and every one of those sentences.

[The one who first cast the ancient curse on the Original Four Families was also said to be connected to another world.]

And so, while finishing monster subjugation faster than usual and heading to the Southern Region.

Three months passed in an instant.

Winter was approaching its end. Leopold’s transformation period was drawing near.

‘Ah.’

He sighed in anguish.

‘Damn it…’

But there were good points about transforming into a wolf-dog. His sense of smell became dramatically sharper.

Moreover, Brisa…

‘Tracking scent?’

She had his tracking scent.

Since Brisa hadn’t properly opened the scent pouch, it was impossible to track when he was human. But once he became a wolf-dog with absolutely sensitive senses, he could tell.

‘Even when I transformed into a puppy before, my sense of smell wasn’t this sharp.’

Of course, it wasn’t just his sense of smell that developed.

His body size had grown tremendously, and the power of his front paws and sharpness of his fangs had become incredible. It felt like his entire body was transforming into a combat form.

‘I have to stop this.’

There was no time to wait for ten days until he could transform back into a human.

‘Marquis Cheria Naisar will definitely try to harm the Sears siblings.’

That’s why Leopold had followed the tracking scent all the way to the front of the Cursed Forest. And without even having time to properly observe, he stood before Brisa.

“Woof!”

But instead of Brisa, Alpheus clung to his body.

“Our puppy, it’s been so long! But what did you eat to grow this big? My goodness, how did you get here?”

“Grrr…”

There was a good thing about becoming a wolf-dog. He didn’t have to answer all these questions.

“Our cute puppy!”

But neither Brisa nor Alpheus seemed to be in any dangerous situation.

Leopold tried to push away the clinging Alpheus with his tail, looking at Cheria with a suspicious expression.

The bold and righteous ruler of the Southern Region, whom he had interacted with several times since childhood.

Until now, even if she wasn’t exactly an ally, he never thought she would become an enemy.

But she was the one who handed over southern wheat to the dark mage. He could no longer consider her a trustworthy acquaintance.

“Do you know… do you know this wolf, Brisa?”

Cheria asked cautiously.

“Yes. It’s Leopold’s dog.”

He was now too big to claim he was just a dog, but Brisa said so anyway.

“Huh? But he’s wearing something around his neck! Wait a moment.”

Brisa took out a letter from the pouch around the wolf-dog’s neck. It was actually a letter that Leopold had written in advance.

[Don’t trust Marquis Cheria Naisar.

She handed over wheat to the Dark Mage and is also trying to send Lady Shania to become the Crown Prince’s concubine.

Just leave the Southern Region immediately.

I’ve secured information about Sebon.

I’ll tell you the other details in person due to security issues, but there’s one mysterious legend among them that I’m attaching.

Let’s think about it together. We always got perfect scores when we did team assignments back at the Academy, didn’t we?

Like that regional Santa legend research project, for example.

– Leopold]

Brisa seriously read even the Sebon legend written on the back.

Then she raised her head and shrugged her shoulders at the people who were watching.

Her expression wasn’t particularly surprised.

“Leopold sent it. He must have trained it quite well during this time. Now it can even deliver letters.”

“Good heavens… But why?”

“He says not to trust the Marquis. The Western Region’s intelligence network is impressive.”

No, why are you saying that so openly!

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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