The Oracle of the Villainous Baby - Chapter 128
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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 128
Bunny’s eyes widened slightly as she sensed the malice emanating from Hila.
‘Could she have done that on purpose?’
According to Luriel, Hila also possessed knowledge of the future.
A ‘Possessor’, as she had called it.
That meant Hila, like Luriel, knew various things about events that hadn’t yet come to pass.
‘Could the Witch have made contact with the High Priest first?’
If so, I had no way of knowing what she might have revealed or how.
If she had disclosed everything I was hiding, the High Priest would certainly have become my enemy.
‘…This is troublesome.’
As a child, I harbored the naive belief that if I simply made a good impression on the High Priest, everything would work out somehow.
But the world as I saw it now, having grown older, was not filled with such beautiful stories.
‘There’s no helping it.’
I had no choice but to follow Luriel’s guidance and win over (?) this man called the High Priest.
‘But that will require preparation….’
However, if I told Father that I was preparing to win the High Priest’s favor, he would certainly interrogate me relentlessly.
And if I asked Roel for help, he would be astonished, demanding to know whom I was trying to win over.
“Hmm….”
I rubbed my chin thoughtfully.
The High Priest was born with tremendous holy power, but the price was a terrible heart pain that accompanied him from birth, or so I’d heard.
So if I could resolve that using Luriel’s information, things would certainly go well.
Having thought that far, I crossed my arms, nodded to myself, and finished my meal.
The meal time was quieter than expected, and Hila blended into the family gathering as naturally as if she had always been a member of the household.
* * *
After finishing the meal, I returned to my room and sat on the bed, gently swinging my legs back and forth.
“Chirp!”
The Phoenix, who had been dozing in the corner, spotted me and flew over, landing on my lap. Thanks to the Phoenix’s high body temperature, my lap quickly became warm and cozy.
With the Phoenix settled on my lap, I reached out and pulled a small notebook from inside Toto’s belly.
Flip, flip.
The pages began to turn, and soon they stopped around the halfway point.
Remarkably, as I grew older, the notebook began to fill with more and more writing, allowing me to look up information directly without Luriel’s help.
And Luriel no longer appeared unless I called for her.
‘Perhaps it’s because I don’t read the diary every day like I used to?’
That might well be the case.
Or perhaps, since the notebook itself was incredibly old, its magical power was gradually weakening.
After all, no magic lasts forever.
So I didn’t call upon Luriel often. It felt as though if this trace disappeared, Luriel’s trace would disappear as well.
Besides, having climbed two steps up the ladder of adulthood, I had been rather busy lately.
I had acquired a tutor, and my studies had expanded to include noble etiquette and ballroom dancing.
Father said I didn’t have to do it if I didn’t want to….
‘Shalone was absolutely against it.’
She threw a tremendous fit, insisting that such education should be learned while one still has the chance.
She even went so far as to say something harsh—that she didn’t need an uncultured younger sibling.
‘But that’s basically her acknowledging me as her sibling, isn’t it?’
I’d known for a while that she had a soft spot for me, but having it confirmed like this made me feel a little embarrassed, if I’m being honest.
Heh.
‘She’s just not being honest about it. Shalone’s still just a kid, after all.’
Lost in my own musings, I shook my head and flipped through my notebook to find the information I’d been searching for.
【Strategy Notes】
Target: Michael Lobanov
Age: 17 years old
Gender: Male
Occupation: Wandering Saint —> High Priest of the Empire
A character who lost everyone—family and neighbors alike—during the prolonged Holy Demon War, awakening latent divine power in the process, and played a significant role in the latter half of the conflict.
Harbors deep resentment toward the Demon Clan and chose to wander as a way to eradicate all demons from the world, eventually becoming regarded as a Saint and promoted to the position of High Priest.
Fair and impartial in all matters, unfailingly righteous and virtuous, yet when it comes to the Demon Clan, he wishes to tear them all to pieces.
My face crumpled slightly as I read through the notes about the High Priest, Michael Lobanov.
“I… no.”
I bit my lip at my lingering habit of referring to myself that way, shaking my head vigorously side to side.
“If I’m discovered, will I be torn to shreds…?”
This High Priest person seems to harbor an enormous amount of resentment toward the Demon Clan.
As I read through the information, I groaned and pulled a pillow into my arms, flipping to the next page of my notebook.
Born with the Divine Eye, he can see through all things with a mere glance, making it nearly impossible to hide one’s true nature from him.
Known as the one who distinguishes between good and evil—merciful to the righteous, infinitely cruel to the wicked.
There are two key points through which one can gain Michael Lobanov’s affection.
One is to find his younger sister, whom he lost after being swept up in the fleeing crowds during the Holy Demon War.
The other is to alleviate the terrible pain he frequently experiences as the price of being born with such overwhelming divine power—pain so severe it drives him to contemplate death.
The latter can be temporarily resolved if someone possesses divine power comparable to Michael Lobanov’s, particularly if they were born with powerful healing divine power. Like Shalone.
However, the former is somewhat more complicated.
Michael Lobanov’s younger sister, Arha Lobanov, lives in a small village called Yuha, located north of the Capital, with no memory of her past.
She regains her memories when she finds a pendant with her name inscribed on it.
After the protagonist finds the pendant and she recovers her memories, she refuses all food and drink, weeping endlessly, until one day she suddenly takes her own life.
Michael Lobanov is devastated by this.
If one reaches this branching point while having periodically treated his heart pain and raised his affection level, comforting and consoling the despairing Michael and spending the night with him opens his route.
If one only comforts him without spending the night together, his hidden ending route becomes available.
The information my notebook provides is still half incomprehensible, but I’ve grown accustomed to it by now.
In any case…
‘So if I find Michael Lobanov’s younger sister, I can earn points, right?’
I lay on my stomach and kicked my legs restlessly.
To restore her memories, I need the pendant, but if I give her the pendant, she dies and Michael suffers a terrible shock?
If I could soothe that, I could conquer (?) Michael.
‘…But do I really need my sister to die in order to conquer him?’
Was a conquest born from my sister’s death truly a happy conquest?
If Michael had loved his sister so dearly, wouldn’t he come to love me far more if I saved her instead?
‘Just as I created a debt with Roel, I’ll create one with Michael too.’
“Luriel!”
Though I had sworn not to call upon her today, I found myself needing Luriel’s assistance after all, and her name escaped my lips.
As I called out, mana drained from my hand and seeped into the notebook, which flashed with an inky brilliance.
Flutter, flutter—
The pages inscribed with writing fluttered past one another before finally coming to rest near the very end.
It’s been quite some time, Young Master. Or should I be calling you Young Lady now?
“Am I a Young Lady now? A Young Lady who raises the Heugyeomryong on her left arm?!”
Indeed you are. My, how you’ve grown. What brings you to seek my counsel?
Luriel’s handwriting seemed to carry a hint of amusement within it.
I gazed at the neat script appearing before me and smiled softly.
“I’m trying to conquer (?) Michael, but I was wondering—how do I save his sister?”
Michael…. Ah, the High Priest? If it’s the High Priest’s sister you speak of… you mean that supporting character who loses her memories, finds the pendant, and then dies, correct?
Luriel’s choice of words caused my head to tilt slightly.
‘A supporting character?’
Did life truly contain such distinctions as supporting roles and leading roles?
I retrieved the Empire dictionary I had placed nearby and quickly flipped through its contents.
Supporting character: A role that assists the protagonist in advancing the narrative of a work; or the person who performs such a role.
My expression grew peculiar.
I closed the dictionary again and, after examining its contents, scratched my cheek.
Luriel sometimes said strange things. Words like supporting character and protagonist.
When I was younger, I thought nothing of it, but recently, something about those words has begun to feel odd.
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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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