The Peaceful Life Of A Maid Who Hides Her Power And Enjoys It - Chapter 172

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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 172

Come to think of it, the day Dian collapsed was also the day of a family meal.

‘Assassination. What reason could there be to threaten a child who isn’t even an adult yet?’

With five siblings, it could be related to succession struggles.

‘This is troublesome. Should I skip the meal entirely?’

Perhaps because my steps slowed from worrying, when I arrived at the dining room, the only empty chair was mine. Unwelcoming gazes poured down on me, and I memorized each of those faces one by one.

Could the culprit be among them?

“You’re late, Dian.”

“I apologize.”

As soon as I sat down after apologizing, grilled shellfish mixed with crimson sauce was served. I looked around at my siblings who had started eating, then quietly called a servant.

“My stomach isn’t feeling well, so could you make a simple stew with meat soup and finely chopped vegetables?”

“I’ll relay that to the cook.”

The sibling sitting next to me must have heard my whisper, as they let out a small snort.

“How dramatic.”

Coincidentally, I had never seen how Dian treated their siblings. So I just ignored it, pretending not to hear.

“If you can’t even swallow food properly, why bother attending the banquet?”

“…”

“Hey. Can’t you hear me?”

“…”

“Ha. Life must be treating you well lately? Now you’re ignoring your own brother?”

“…”

Why is this guy so noisy? I should have just pretended to be intimidated.

Because the sibling next to me kept raising their voice with provocations, the Lord who had been dining quietly turned his attention this way.

“Dian, are you still unwell?”

Well, would I be fine after collapsing from poison?

“I’m trying my best to get better.”

“Good, it’s nice to see you making an effort.”

What’s so good about it, that lunatic. If making me burst with frustration every conversation is a skill, then it’s quite a skill.

But if I wasn’t mistaken, Dian’s siblings seemed somewhat envious of even that worthless praise.

After the cold atmosphere continued for nearly 10 minutes, the Lord, who had been listening to his children’s boasts with a bored expression, spoke to me.

“Today you’re strangely not leaving your seat early, Dian.”

He’s quite perceptive.

‘That must mean Dian disliked these meal gatherings that much.’

I honestly revealed my intention for stubbornly staying.

“I have something I’d like to ask you, Father.”

“About that slave?”

“Yes.”

I was slightly tense thinking he might refuse, but the Lord unexpectedly accepted my request right away.

“All of you, return to your rooms.”

Though I never expected he would actually kick out siblings who hadn’t even finished their meal.

‘Does this person even have paternal love?’

One of the hesitating siblings smiled stiffly and spoke to the Lord.

“Father, I’m also curious about that famous ‘Spire Monster’…”

“Are you going to make me say the same thing twice?”

The sibling who had spoken turned pale and hurriedly bowed their head.

“I apologize, Father. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

A tyrant, he’s a tyrant.

It was an absurd display, but I didn’t show it. Though I had only known the Sereniye Lord for a few days, I had fully realized how domineering and selfish he was.

After the siblings left.

The Sereniye Lord, who had taken a drink, asked me.

“So. What are you curious about?”

“…Among all the many slaves, I’m curious why it must be ‘that slave’ specifically.”

Intimidated by the Lord’s fierce expression, I quickly added.

“I intend to faithfully carry out Father’s orders. However, since I don’t see anything special about him…”

“Dian, how old do you think that slave looks?”

Recalling my conversation with Lu in the dream, I gave an approximate number.

“He looked to be just over twenty.”

“Correct. He’s barely past twenty, and has crossed three walls.”

What?

‘That’s impossible. He crossed three walls at barely over twenty?’

What does crossing three walls mean?

There’s no need for a long explanation. Simply put, it means the same level as the Three Kalefas of Loguet and the Swordmaster. An achievement that even the Swordmaster, called a god-given genius, reached only after turning forty. At less than half that age.

‘He was more amazing than I vaguely thought.’

Do you need to be that much of a genius to reach the realm of a demigod? I can’t even dream of it.

“It’s hard to believe. How could someone with such amazing talent be trapped in the spire…”

“You’re talking nonsense. Of course he’s impressive. But what could that little thing do against Lord Kalepa, even having crossed three walls?”

The Lord’s mockery reminded me of Lu in the spire, filled with rage.

“Or is this also a scheme to make me an avatar of that disgusting god bastard?”

‘Could the disgusting god Lu mentioned be Kalepa?’

I don’t know enough yet to be certain.

After pondering, I muttered quietly enough for the Lord to barely hear.

“Ah, so that’s what it was.”

Not missing the brief moment, the Lord sharply questioned back.

“What do you mean, ‘that’s what it was’?”

I pretended to be startled and stammered out an answer.

“Last night when the slave saw me, he immediately flew into a rage, ranting about god’s avatar. If the god he mentioned is ‘that person,’ I wondered if it was right to feed ‘that person’s’ avatar one of Astrosia’s three deadly poisons…”

“Hmm. So that’s why you, who hate banquets, forced yourself to attend tonight. Yes, I understand your concern. No matter how strong a Hui-level body is, it would be hard to withstand one of Astrosia’s three deadly poisons.”

“…”

“That’s why I entrusted it to you, Dian. You’re the only one who can more perfectly refine the body to offer to Lord Kalepa. If you successfully complete this mission, Lord Kalepa will give you a very great reward.”

The brief encouragement contained quite a bit of significant information. Considering the events I’d experienced, it wasn’t too difficult to interpret in my own way.

‘God means Kalepa, and avatar refers to Kalepa’s new body.’

And it seemed I, or rather Dian, was assigned part of that process.

“I won’t disappoint you.”

The Lord, who had been stroking his chin, smiled with satisfaction.

“You’ve changed. Until just a few days ago, you couldn’t hide your troubled expression. You’ve finally become a useful son of mine.”

I could vaguely guess what kind of child the Sereniye Count wanted. Taking advantage of being praised, I asked a bit more boldly.

“But how is an avatar completed? Depending on the case, recovery of certain parts might be delayed.”

“We put that person’s heart into the body. It’s a very glorious blessing that mere humans cannot covet.”

Heart crystal.

‘This is completely… the exact same situation as Natasha!’

The Swordmaster’s prediction was right.

If you swallow a demigod’s heart crystal, you can become a host and have your body stolen!

I felt I needed to solve Natasha’s problem as quickly as possible, but there was nothing I could do right now.

‘Come to think of it, what happens to my real body while I’m staying here? Am I unconscious?’

Ah. Coming to my senses, I belatedly pretended to be greatly surprised and pleased the Lord.

“Wow, amazing. What a tremendous blessing. I’d want to eat it myself if I could.”

…I thought I might have gone too far, but fortunately the Lord showed no particular reaction.

This made it certain.

I must rescue Lu from that spire before he becomes Kalepa’s host.

Having organized my thoughts, I headed straight to the apothecary.

* * *

A little before midnight.

As I had the previous day, I headed to the spire heavily armed with a coat and hat fluffy with animal fur.

‘Damn. My legs are cramping up.’

I don’t know how long it’s been since I felt such intense muscle pain.

I climbed the stairs again today carrying a bag twice as heavy as usual. The only advantage of climbing the spire’s stairs was that at least while climbing, I could forget about the cold.

And the disadvantage was everything else.

“Hello.”

Arriving at the top floor, I pushed open the bars and slowly entered inside.

The cold golden eyes that had been closed slowly opened. The gaze looking up at me was as indifferent as always.

Lu had a new muzzle fitted over his mouth.

I set down the bag I’d been carrying on my back. What I pulled out were two containers the size of my forearm and water, which left me drenched in sweat once again.

“You seemed to have quite a few wounds, so I made more ointment. Um. This is disinfectant, and this is burn ointment.”

“…”

“So will you let me this time?”

From Lu’s parched lips, white, thin breath rose like a phantom.

“I told you.”

As if it was too bothersome to deal with me anymore, he closed his eyes again and recited in a voice rough and cracked like tree bark.

“I don’t need charity from trash like you… get lost.”

Today’s Lu was like a dying candle flame. I held up the portable lamp a bit higher to check his condition.

‘As I thought… he has even more wounds.’

In that state, I couldn’t give up even more.

I set down the lamp and approached closer to Lu. The moment his fiercer gaze tried to straighten up to threaten me.

I took off my clothes.

“Ugh, it’s cold.”

First the muffler, gloves, and hat. Then the coat, cardigan, winter dress… Especially when unbuttoning the last dress, my hands trembled. In my eagerness to gain trust quickly, I didn’t even have the leisure to observe Lu’s reaction.

Like that, wearing women’s long-sleeved pajamas and huddled up with cold, I spoke to Lu.

“N-now I’m practically naked. Trust aside, I don’t have any weapons that could threaten you. Ah, it’s cold! Or do you want to ch-check inside too?”

His wide golden eyes focused on my face. His upper body was illuminated by the yellow light. I could see red blood dripping from his greatly swollen skin.

“You know, I have absolutely no intention of doing anything to you trapped here, at least not right now.”

Forcibly suppressing the surge of emotion, I continued.

“…Let me treat your wounds.”

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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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