The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 114

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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 114. Discord and Bonds
Queen Marceline’s teeth ground together involuntarily, crunching audibly.
She gnashed them so fiercely that her jaw began to ache.
Yet unsatisfied, she crunched them again!!
Just as she was grinding her teeth once more.
“What is the meaning of this, Your Majesty?”
A dizzying woman’s voice emerged from the darkness.
Soft yet lethal in its cadence.
Gradually, her figure materialized from the shadows, beginning with her legs.
“Bribes don’t work, drugs don’t work, brainwashing doesn’t work, and even his whispers prove useless….”
The woman’s face came fully into view.
Her bewitching yet commanding beauty froze Queen Marceline in an instant.
“There is a traitor within our ranks. That is the only conclusion we can draw.”
Luseria’s eyes flashed with sudden intensity.
“In that regard, I must ask Your Majesty.”
“….”
“Did you truly lose our funds at the tea gathering?”
“Are you doubting me now?”
“The timing is simply too convenient.”
Luseria continued slowly, as though gauging Queen Marceline’s reaction.
“That Your Majesty would suddenly lose our funds, of all things.”
“….”
“While the funds we provided to Your Majesty remain perfectly intact.”
“…Are you suggesting I lied?”
“If that’s not the case.”
Luseria tilted her head slightly.
A cold smile graced her lips.
“Then Your Majesty must be conspiring with Adrian.”
“That’s absurd—!”
“Adrian’s actions at the Banquet Hall and the Salon were deliberate. As though he possessed complete knowledge of our intelligence.”
Queen Marceline fell silent.
She could not deny it—she agreed.
“We had no choice but to suspect collusion with Your Majesty. Particularly with you, who lost our funds at the tea gathering.”
“What of the possibility that information leaked from your own ranks? You haven’t considered that?”
“Well, I suppose that’s possible.”
Luseria shrugged once.
“However, if information leaked from our side… I wonder.”
Luseria paused, her expression thoughtful.
Then, a brief smile crossed her face as she continued.
“I simply don’t believe that would be possible.”
“That’s quite remarkable trust, I must say.”
“It’s less about trust and more about what you literally said was ‘impossible’… but if that counts as trust, then so be it.”
“So, what is it you’re trying to tell me?”
“The events aren’t over yet.”
Luseria’s gaze sharpened in an instant.
“The final Ballroom remains.”
Luseria gradually became engulfed in darkness.
Soon the darkness dispersed, and Luseria’s form vanished without a trace—
—but you must succeed.
Her final voice echoed like the reverberations of darkness, lingering in Queen Marceline’s ears.
* * *
Tea reception, banquet, salon, contest.
I had successfully blocked every scheme Queen Marceline had orchestrated.
‘Now only one social event remains….’
The Ballroom.
The crown jewel and grand finale of the social season—the most crucial event.
But unfortunately, I couldn’t discern the Ballroom’s plans.
I considered infiltrating once more with Assimilation [C+] to uncover it, but I abandoned the idea.
‘There’s a risk of being discovered.’
Assimilation [C+]’s genetic factors weren’t yet fully stabilized.
Last time, I nearly got caught by Luseria.
Having already aroused suspicion, a hasty infiltration would only derail my own plans if exposed.
But that didn’t mean I would simply observe their secret conversation passively.
I acted with deliberate intention.
As though I possessed their information.
Since The Darkness Lord orchestrated this affair, Luseria wouldn’t consider the possibility that information leaked from her side.
That would be, as the saying goes, impossible.
In other words, Luseria could only conclude that Queen Marceline had leaked the information.
Thus the discord between them would deepen.
Discord becomes fractures, fractures become cracks, and cracks inevitably lead to collapse.
It doesn’t matter if I can’t discern what schemes they’re plotting at the Ballroom.
Special Task Force under Allied Forces Command.
Special Forces Duke Commander.
The countless operations I’ve executed.
The instincts honed through dancing between life and death across countless battlefields.
No matter how masterful Queen Marceline is at political intrigue, she ultimately rests in the palm of my hand.
Politics isn’t my expertise, but the battlefield is my domain.
Above all, The Darkness Lord is no longer a variable I must contend with.
Successor’s Will [EX].
Whatever variables may arise, I can handle them all.
If I really wanted to, canceling the Ballroom itself would be one way to do it.
For instance, by blasting the stage away with the Radiant Dragon’s Wrath [L].
Then whatever schemes anyone tried wouldn’t matter at all.
‘That’s not bad, actually.’
Just as that thought crossed my mind—
◆Fate Quest arrived: [Tonight, I’m the Star of the Show!]
A Quest notification suddenly materialized before my eyes.
And it was a ‘Fate’ Quest appearing for the first time at that—
‘What?’
What was this all of a sudden?
* * *
In the Guest Chamber of the Royal Palace.
Seraphia lay face-down on the bed, exhaling a deep sigh.
‘I couldn’t help with anything at all….’
The Royal Social Society itself had become a mess, but beyond that, I had accomplished nothing.
Adrian, on the other hand, was different.
From the tea gathering onward, Adrian had been the star.
And no wonder—Adrian was the proprietor of the Predator Merchant Company.
The only person on the Continent distributing monster meat, after all.
Not to mention the incident of chaos at the Royal Palace last time.
Adrian’s bold actions, unflinching even before the prince.
His tremendous skill, beating the Royal Knights’ vice-commander like a dog.
It only served to elevate Adrian’s name and made him wildly popular with the young noblewomen.
And that wasn’t all.
At the Banquet Hall, he unveiled an unprecedented item called ‘peanut wine.’
In the Salon, he displayed remarkable intellectual prowess, overwhelming the renowned court mage Floyd in debate.
Compared to such an Adrian—
‘I’m so lacking….’
I had accomplished nothing.
Just as a bitter sigh was escaping my lips—
Knock, knock.
-May I come in?
Adrian’s voice suddenly reached my ears.
My body flinched and trembled involuntarily.
“…Ah, yes! Please come in!”
I quickly tidied my disheveled hair.
And I rapidly straightened my posture.
The door slowly opened, and Adrian entered the room.
“What were you doing?”
“Just resting…, but what brings you here?”
Adrian brushed past the matter without concern.
“Did you bring the dress you’ll wear to the next Ballroom, our most important social event?”
“…Yes? Oh, yes.”
Seraphia nodded.
The Ballroom was the most significant gathering of the Royal Social Society.
The dress for the Ballroom demanded far more attention than any other event.
“I did prepare something.”
“Then put it on and come out.”
“Right now…?”
So suddenly?
While Seraphia stood bewildered, Adrian had already left the room.
* * *
After stepping outside the chamber.
I reviewed the Affinity Quest details once more.
==[Tonight, I Am The Star!]==
[Objective] – Successfully debut Seraphia
[Reward] – Seraphia Affinity 「Bond Stage」 Unlocked
[Refusal] – ???
First, the reward of unlocking the 「Bond Stage」.
It was clear this reward related to affinity.
‘Bond Stage?’
But I had no idea what that meant.
Until now, affinity had consisted of three stages total.
Conflict, Neutral, and Interest.
The Conflict stage contained states of [Hatred, Disgust, Anger, Discord].
The Neutral stage contained the state of [Indifference].
The Interest stage contained states of [Affection, Goodwill, Trust, Affinity].
Therefore, the Bond ‘Stage’ did not simply refer to a [state]—
◆Are you curious what the Bond Stage is!?!
…No, that’s not it.
It’s just—
◆Then it’s only natural I explain it to you!!
Had it been quiet for so long that the system was itching to speak?
Seizing the moment, the text cascaded before my eyes, casually dismissing my objections and doing as it pleased.
◆The Bond, you see, represents the ultimate culmination of a relationship!
◆The 「Bond Stage」 is the final stage of affinity.
◆In other words, it is the stage that comes after the 「Interest Stage」!
◆Then who gains access to it!?!
◆Absolutely not just anyone! Not a chance!
◆In short, no way in hell!
◆The fact that it only opens for those whose affinity has reached the ‘threshold’!
◆The fact that it can only be unlocked through special events!
◆The fact that if you miss that opportunity, you may never unlock it for the rest of your life!
◆The fact that because bonds are so difficult to forge, the rewards are equally generous!
◆The fact that you receive a ‘Bond Skill’!
◆The fact that that’s not all!
◆The fact that you shouldn’t be surprised!
◆The fact that you can learn the past of the person with whom you’ve forged a bond!
◆The fact that you can also discern the emotions they desperately hide!
◆The fact that through this, you can ‘conquer’ that person!
◆The fact that I know what you’re thinking!
◆The fact that you’re far too devious!
◆In any case, the 「Bond Stage」has been unlocked! Fact!
◆That means you can now pursue an entirely different direction in your relationship with that person! Fact!
◆Of course, as relationships are diverse, the types of bonds are equally varied! Fact!
◆Bonds between family! Bonds between lovers! Fact!
◆Bonds between colleagues! Bonds between mentor and disciple! Fact!
◆Bonds between rivals! Bonds between lord and vassal! Fact!
◆Among these, what kind of bond do you wish to pursue with that person?! Fact!?
…At the very least, it’s definitely insane.
It seemed clear that when I obtained Berserk, it also obtained this theatrical frenzy.
Otherwise, there was no way to explain such an outburst.
…Regardless.
Last time, when Seraphia’s affinity reached the ‘threshold,’ a Quest was unlocked.
It wasn’t a Quest I particularly needed to complete—
The fact that the penalty for refusal was ???.
There have been rewards that were ???, but never a penalty that was ???.
It seems to be related to The Darkness Lord.
That’s why it’s difficult to refuse hastily.
This means I can’t cancel the Ballroom itself.
Therefore—
◆Beginning the Fate Quest [Tonight, I’m the Star of the Show!].
And somehow.
…I, too, seem to be losing my mind.
* * *
Moments later.
Seraphia cracked the door open slightly, poking only her head through.
“Brother… I’m ready.”
An inexplicable sense of embarrassment washed over her.
Seraphia carefully opened the door and stepped out.
“W-well, how is it…?”
Adrian appraised Seraphia from head to toe.
And his assessment, when it came, was….
“The design is acceptable.”
“Really?!”
Seraphia’s expression brightened instantly.
But then came Adrian’s follow-up remark.
“Only the design is acceptable.”
Her brightened expression dimmed once more.
“The dress doesn’t suit you.”
Seraphia glanced over the dress and bit her lip slightly.
The waistline was indeed far too loose, and the sleeves hung slack and drooping.
The bodice sat awkwardly, floating away from her frame.
Especially the upper portion—even the slightest movement caused it to shift, refusing to settle properly.
Overall, the dress clashed with her figure, and consequently, it looked utterly wrong on her.
“I’ve never worn clothes like this before….”
Seraphia answered with a thoroughly dejected expression.
And right then.
“Take it off.”
“…Pardon?”
Seraphia’s crimson eyes blinked involuntarily.
Her face flushed scarlet in an instant, burning hot.
“R-r-r-right n-n-now…! H-h-here-!”
“There’s much to alter, so remove it quickly and come out.”
“Oh…?”
Her expression suddenly cleared, as if a switch had flipped.
“Oh! Y-yes! I’ll change and be right back!”
Seraphia hurried into the room.
* * *
Marble that gleamed brilliantly, as though cradling a thousand starlit rays.
Golden luminescence cascading from an enormous chandelier.
The Ballroom of the Royal Palace, where opulence and nobility coexisted in perfect harmony.
Following the melodies played by the court orchestra, noble daughters entered one by one.
The final event of the Royal Social Society—the ball.
As this was the glorious occasion where young noblewomen introduced themselves to aristocratic society by paying respects to The Queen, the daughters of noble houses spared no effort in their preparations.
Those who had shed weight for this singular day.
Those who had forgone food and drink to perfect their dress’s silhouette.
Those who had spent tens of thousands of gold on skincare.
The young noblewomen, having marshaled every resource at their disposal, were nothing short of radiant.
But as the Ballroom doors opened—.
A girl with silver hair gleaming with fresh radiance made her entrance—
“Gasp…!”
“Ah…!”
Everyone’s breath seemed to freeze, and all conversation and movement came to an absolute standstill.

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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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