The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 112

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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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‘Ugh, so bright!’

Unable to cope with the dizzying barrage of flashing lights, I shouted loudly.

“Wait, wait! I’ll tell you everything…!”

The flashes did stop, but this time recording magical devices came rushing toward me.

The sight of everyone waiting for me to open my mouth was quite burdensome.

Of course, having articles and interviews published would be welcome.

But.

‘There are people constantly watching for my weaknesses. Like Edwina and Crodil.’

Right now, I’m riding high on momentum, so they probably won’t attack recklessly.

However, there was plenty of possibility that they could nitpick my every word later to bring me down.

‘The sensationalist press obsessed with sales numbers might twist my words when they publish them.’

I needed to be careful.

But the reporters didn’t seem like they’d leave easily.

In that case?

“Follow me.”

When I opened the pawnshop door, the reporters filed in after me.

Standing at the angle where the exhibition hall was most visible, I tidied my hair and smiled slightly.

“I know there are many rumors about me, but setting all that aside, I’m an appraiser. So…”

“Are you saying the content reported in the media isn’t true?”

“‘Setting all that aside’? Then what about your relationship with the Duke of Alchemiya?”

Wow, look at their skill in creating provocative headlines.

Memorizing the faces of the reporters who asked twisted questions, I smiled and said.

“I meant I’m not used to situations like this. So I’m thinking of doing an exclusive interview with just one newspaper.”

Exclamation marks appeared on everyone’s faces.

The reporters rushed forward combatively.

To the people shouting “Do it with us! Our newspaper is the best!” I said calmly.

“But I’d need to know something about them, right? I don’t really read newspapers. So…”

“So?”

“Nothing else really, I’m planning to interview with whoever takes the prettiest pictures of me. For promotion too?”

I gave a gentle eye-smile.

“I’ll decide after seeing the photos published in the papers.”

Flashes poured down as if they’d been waiting.

I subtly pulled out and displayed my appraisal tools while smiling brightly.

*

After the reporters left.

“My eyes hurt…”

Organizing the pile of reporters’ business cards while rubbing my eyes, I shrugged my shoulders.

‘I might look a bit attention-seeking, but rather than let them paint me as having some sinister intentions, it’s much better to appear like someone who just wants attention.’

I could restore that image later with an exclusive interview.

As a bonus, it also had the effect of lowering the nobles’ guard temporarily.

‘Right, surely she didn’t do all that herself? She must be reciting what the Duke and Princess told her to say.’

This meant they’d make assumptions and let their guard down.

‘And I can’t let the media focus on my family history and background. Let’s make them pay attention to the profession of appraiser.’

Even though I’d broken Rosaline, Crodil remained, so I still needed to be careful about exposing Grandfather’s whereabouts.

Incidentally, since photos of the pawnshop would be published in every newspaper in the Empire, it was more than profitable.

How much would this cost in advertising fees?

‘Acting attention-seeking is definitely worth it, absolutely.’

While organizing the business cards, something caught my eye.

‘《Presrife Prism》, this is the newspaper Grandfather used to enjoy reading.’

It was so neutral and fair that it completely ignored the nobles’ opinions, to the point where even advertisements wouldn’t stick to it, making operations difficult?

‘It also carries a lot of foreign news.’

I remembered the reporter who gave me this card.

Unlike the other reporters who kept pushing forward even when I was suffering from the flashes, that person hadn’t turned on their flash.

Thinking of that reporter’s particularly clear and upright-looking eyes, I came to a conclusion.

‘Good, I’ll do the exclusive interview with this newspaper.’

It would be fine even if 《Presrife Prism》 took terrible photos. ‘Pretty pictures’ are subjective anyway.

What if it’s a photo where my face is completely blown out?

I could just say I like a dreamy atmosphere, couldn’t I?

It was when I finished organizing the business cards.

The telegraph made a beeping notification sound.

‘It’s fortunate that only a few people know the telegraph number. If it were a public number, imagine how many more contacts I would have received.’

While a new telegram was being printed, I looked over the existing telegrams.

‘The Guild Master’s message says he’s relieved that Rosaline and Hugo were caught… Oh, Hanna says the work related to ‘Root of Blindness’ is almost finished! That’s great. And who is this one from?’

Besides those two, the only people who know the telegraph number are at most the doctor or the Duke of Alchemiya’s people, right?

After spraying the solution, I was puzzled by the revealed content.

It was a telegram with no sender written on it.

I watched well. I’ll look forward to more.

I could understand “watched well,” but what did “look forward to more” mean?

While thinking, I made an “ah” sound.

‘Looking at the tone, did the Cardinal send this?’

There was one more person who knew the telegraph number.

Crescenziano.

But why didn’t he write the sender’s name? While wondering, I frowned at the telegram that had just been printed.

Hello, sister. It’s me, Crescenziano. We have things to talk about, right? Come to the temple now. Right away.

‘Huh? …Things to talk about?’

Surely the Cardinal wasn’t going to step forward and tell me about black magic addiction treatment.

Looking back and forth between the two telegrams, I sent a reply.

Hello, Crescenziano. I’m also dying to talk with you, but if it’s not urgent, I’m sorry but could I come in about two hours?

A reply came immediately.

…When you put it that way, how can I say no… Actually, it’s not urgent, I understand…

It somehow seemed to come with the voice support of someone feeling dejected, but let’s set that aside.

Then whose telegram was the first one?

‘Was there interference? I heard telegrams sometimes go to the wrong place.’

After neatly folding and putting away the telegrams, I headed to Emma’s shop.

*

“You’re here! Elisha!”

“…Hello, Elisha.”

Two mages with quite contrasting atmospheres welcomed me.

Chloe’s complexion was still pale, but she was smiling awkwardly.

I liked seeing her like that, so I smiled and greeted her too.

Though I had no idea why Emma kept grinning cheesily while looking back and forth between us.

When I looked puzzled, Emma cleared her throat.

“Ahem, hmm. Anyway, let’s get to the point. From Chloe’s right hand to just below her right shoulder has been consumed by dark magic.”

Since Chloe had been wearing robes the whole time, I didn’t know the range was larger than I thought.

I gasped in surprise, but Emma waved her hands dismissively.

“But! It doesn’t seem like something to worry about that much. Not right now, anyway.”

“Huh? Sister, do you know some other treatment method besides purifying with premium magic stones?”

“No, I don’t know that. If I knew, would all those idiots who used dark magic have died until now? …No, ahem, hmm, I don’t mean Chloe is an idiot, I’m just saying… ahem, hmm.”

“Sister, should I get you a glass of water? Why are you coughing so much…?”

“No! Sigh, I’ll just be honest. If we had left Chloe alone, the dark magic would have devoured her heart before long.”

Emma glanced at Chloe and continued.

“Since her body and mind were already weakened. Her spirit would have died and she would have become just a shell controlled by dark magic.”

‘Ah, then Chloe from my past life was….’

Chloe had died while maintaining her sense of self even though half her body was consumed by dark magic.

That meant she had stopped her own heart before it was consumed.

To die as a human before being taken over by dark magic.

I bit my lip, feeling sorry for Chloe from my past life, when Emma smiled brightly.

“But you know, the proliferation of dark magic has stopped.”

“The proliferation… has stopped?”

“Yes! Originally, dark magic should spread like paint bleeding out, but the activity of the dark magic that was consuming Chloe’s body has stopped! Like it’s sleeping! So when I checked the timing with Chloe….”

Emma clasped her hands together.

“It was after she met you!”

Even though I didn’t know the reason, the fact that the proliferation of dark magic had stopped was incredibly good news.

I was rejoicing when I paused.

“…As expected, the answer was fate. That’s right, yes, mm.”

But why was Sister Emma getting teary-eyed….

‘Between the coughing earlier and checking the dark magic, she must have had a really hard time….’

My heart ached.

I should buy Sister some nutritious food.

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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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